[en español clic aqui]At Monday’s press conference, parents and teachers shared why they’re boycotting STAAR and accused Superintendent Miles of manipulating data.

An HISD parent put it plainly. Her words capture the growing frustration among families:

“For years, we were told not to opt out — that doing so would hurt our schools or lead to a state takeover. Well, here we are,” Quesada said. “HISD was taken over — but not because we opted out. It happened because we kept opting into a system that works against us. Now, our schools have lost autonomy, and no one is accountable to us.” More in the Houston Chronicle: HISD faces backlash over STAAR exams.

Read more opt out coverage via the Houston Public Media story and Univision (minute 8:05).

At Monday’s press conference, parents and teachers shared why they’re boycotting STAAR and accused Superintendent Miles of manipulating data. CVPE’s press release is excerpted below.

Despite clear guidance from the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Miles continues to defy both state law and TEA policy. Julie Cole, TEA’s Director of Policy and Publications for Student Assessment, states, “If the student/parent has refused to test during a particular testing window, the district should keep local documentation (a letter from the parent is ideal). The test should be marked ‘S’ for score. The district is not required to put the student in front of the test or a make-up test.”

Attorney Scott Placek, who previously sued the TEA over STAAR, explained: “Parents can’t exempt their child from a test, but they can opt out of a standardized assessment. The Texas Education Code distinguishes between tests (§26.006) and assessment instruments (§26.005)—STAAR is defined as the latter.”

Still, Miles and Chief of Staff Massey have instructed campuses to present the STAAR—even when opt-out letters are on file. This policy is disproportionately impacting NES and high-poverty schools.

• If this happens to you, your child can tab through the test on a makeup day and return to class.
• Find detailed guidance here and FAQs at optouttexas.net.

“Miles is claiming historic STAAR gains, but he achieved them by blocking opportunity,” said Dan Dawer, a PhD candidate at UT. 

“At NES schools, 70% of students were excluded from taking Biology STAAR—only Pre-AP kids tested, while 3,000 others were pushed into not tested remedial science to inflate scores. Eighth grade Algebra I enrollment dropped 17% at NES schools, and some schools like Cullen and Fondren had no Algebra students at all. Miles brags about cutting D/F-rated schools from 121 to 40, but over half of NES campuses actually performed better in 2018 or 2019, when the state initially attempted HISD state takeover. This isn’t progress—it’s data manipulation that deepens racial and economic inequities while slashing access to AP and STEM opportunities.”

HISD parent Karina Quesada concludes, “This isn’t just about my kids—it’s about how high-stakes testing is being used to fire great teachers and make kids hate learning. School should inspire curiosity, not fear.”

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