STAAR testing starts next month: Here’s what you need to know

EL PASO, Texas -- STAAR testing is set to begin the first week of April throughout El Paso. Last year the STAAR test was administered to students online. With technical issues, many students could not take or complete the test.

As a result, last year's grades were not held against students or schools. However, this year, the test will count towards students and school accountability.

Educators from EPISD, YISD, SISD, AND CANUTILLO ISD say they are working hard to prepare their students.

But some teachers are unsure if the tests will accurately represent what is going on in the classroom.

"Think in terms of your boss tells you, 'Hi I need you to take a test. This is basic stuff,' you know, and you have no clue what it is because you haven't even seen it before that, setting kids up for failure, in fact, testing kids on stuff they may or may not have seen because again we're still trying to catch up for two years; that's cruelty. That's setting your kids up for failure. That's setting up their teachers for failure," said Ross Moore President of the American Federation of Teachers.

As the pandemic slows and schools fall back into their regular schedules, the STAAR test's return makes some parents uneasy.

"I don't think it's right. I think they should've waited a little longer because it's a lot of pressure on the kids," said Jenny Blanco

Parents say their children already had to make adjustments to return to school, and adding STAAR testing accountability on top of that will only complicate their return further.

"My grandson, he worries a lot he goes, 'Nana I can't do this it's too much for me,'" said Blanco

Raul Salas disagrees with STAAR testing.

"I don't think they're any good for the kids. They should put more into teaching instead of one test for the whole year. I don't think it's fair."