House Bill 4545 passed in the 87th Regular Legislative Session. The new statute is effective, as of June 16, 2021, with accelerated instruction practices required during the 2021-2022 school year for all students, based on results from Spring 2021.

The legislation includes:

• The elimination of grade retention and retesting requirements connected to STAAR test results in grades 5 and 8.

• The requirement for accelerated instruction for any student (including but not limited to special education, 504, and English Language Leaners) who scored in the “Did Not Meet” category on the STAAR assessment in grades 3–8 and high school or STAAR end-of-course (EOC) assessments or did not take the STAAR or EOC assessments 

Accelerated instruction is required for any student who scores in the "Did Not Meet" category on the STAAR grades 3-8 or EOC assessments. Accelerated instruction must be delivered in the school year (starting in fall 2021) or subsequent summer of 2022. Accelerated instruction entails either 1) assigning a classroom teacher who is a certified master, exemplary, or recognized teacher, or 2) delivering supplemental instruction (e.g., tutoring) before or after school, or embedded in the school day and meeting HB 4545 requirements.

Accelerated Learning Committees (ALCs) are required to be established for students who did not pass the STAAR test in grades 3, 5, or 8 math or reading beginning at the start of the 2021-2022 school year, in August.