One of the key implementations of HB 8 is the mandation of beginning-of-year, middle-of-year, and end-of-year assessments, meaning local districts can no longer issue STAAR Interim Assessments, also known as benchmarks, to prepare students for the STAAR exam. Previously, benchmarks were not mandated by the state, but if implemented by the district, they could give teachers insight about students’ skill level to guide them accordingly in preparation for the final STAAR exam. The senators voted to remove these practice tests in order to reclaim lost instructional time.

“Benchmarks are usually low stakes and are a good way to test knowledge. I do see how they can be helpful for teachers,” Lasya Medikonduru ‘28 said. “We usually only have around two a year as well, so I don’t think removing them makes space for a lot more [instructional] activity.”

The original draft of HB 8 attempted to scale back the state’s testing requirements to only those mandated by federal law. This included an annual English and math test from grades 3-8 and an annual science test for selective grades. However, the Senate created an amended version to reverse that effort, making significant modifications to testing and accountability policies. The revised bill was approved by the House. The new system is promoted as a more holistic approach to assessing student growth while preserving the high-stakes structure.

“In elementary and middle school, STAAR tests were definitely one of the more stressful parts of the year,” Sailee Chitari ‘28 said. “However, I’d prefer having just one test at the end of the year rather than having multiple tests throughout. The new system could be [even] more stressful for some students.”

While standardized testing is more frequent under HB 8, the first two tests will also be adaptive, introducing an approach that tailors the level of difficulty of specific questions to students based on their performance in prior sections of the test. Under this proposal, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will be required to return test scores two days after the test administration window closes, ensuring students will know where they stand almost immediately — a sharp contrast to the lengthy waiting time for results from previous STAAR exams.

“[In the past], by the time we got our STAAR test results back, it was the middle of the summer and I forgot my thought process for answering the questions,” Chitari said. “Because these tests will be more frequent, it’s good they’re giving results back earlier. Getting the test back sooner means I’ll know what I got wrong, so I would practice those topics more. I would also have a better opportunity of improving the next time I took the test.”

Despite these significant changes, the legislation still promotes the high-stakes structure of the widely opposed test. Critics of the STAAR test have argued that the assessment places unnecessary stress on students and teachers while failing to accommodate for different learning needs. Even under HB 8, the standardized testing results will continue to be measured by TEA’s A-F accountability system, an approach that assigns letter grades to Texas schools and districts based on student achievement, progress, and learning gaps. Regardless of the testing changes, the STAAR exams will still carry the same sizable weight when it comes to driving school ratings.

“Just because the test may look different doesn’t mean that the pressure necessarily goes away,” Aanya Pathak ‘28 said. “The scores still seem to matter and affect how the school is judged, even though the new version is supposed to be more fair.”

Additionally, HB 8 removes the ability of school districts and communities to legally challenge accountability ratings in court, unearthing a heavy dispute. Communities whose budgets are based on these accountability ratings have criticized the bill as an elimination of state power and a dismissal of locally elected school boards. 

“If the state gets to decide everything, it feels like they’re ignoring what’s best for the schools and the voice of the people running them,” Medikonduru said. 

The full implementation of the system is expected to begin in the 2027-28 school year following two years of beta testing. However, some components of the accountability system will not go into effect until later. In the meantime, students, teachers, and parents are left navigating through a period of transition. While some consider HB 8 as a more equitable approach to public education, debate persists over whether this bill represents meaningful reform or simply repackages the same principles of STAAR under a new name.

“Even though the system is shown to be different, [the pressure] still seems to be the same,” Chitari said. “Students will still be dealing with the same struggle to reach a benchmark. They are changing the presentation, not the impact.” 

Ms. Goncalves began her 23-year teaching career in her home country of Brazil, where her love for teaching and giving back to her community started. Upon arriving in the U.S., she spent three years teaching English Language Arts and five years teaching ESL in California, the latter being a course she still teaches to this day.

“When I was in school, I used to love math, so my teacher would ask me to help the students who were struggling with it,” Ms. Goncalves said. “I would stay after school once a week to help, and that’s pretty much when I decided that I wanted to be a teacher.”

While mathematics initially sparked her love for teaching, Ms. Goncalves eventually found her way into the world of English and received her bachelor’s degree in the subject. She began teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) at schools in Brazil. With her unique international teaching experience, Ms. Goncalves has noticed many cultural differences between teaching English in Brazil compared to the U.S..

“In Brazil, students would have EFL classes twice a week for only 40 minutes, so there’s only so much you can teach,” Ms. Goncalves said. “They weren’t required to communicate in English. It was just one of the school subjects. [In the U.S.], English is a survival skill. These students need to learn how to communicate with it on a daily basis.”

Learning English as a second language can be challenging, as English is regarded as one of the more difficult languages to master — especially for teenagers who are already juggling homework and other responsibilities. Ms. Goncalves wants her students to recognize their own growth in the language-learning process, an undertaking that requires determination and constant practice. Her top priority is providing personalized support to her students as they navigate the language acquisition journey.

“I want my students to feel empowered, confident, and really believe they can do hard things,” Ms. Goncalves said. “I also want to get to know them better, so they feel they can count on me as a helpful resource.”

Outside of school, Ms. Goncalves loves exploring creative outlets like books and music and spending quality time with her family.

“I used to be a dancer in Brazil, so I like to take a few classes when I can,” Ms. Goncalves said. “I also love watching my kids play competitive soccer and volleyball.”

Even with just a few weeks of Westwood experience under her belt, Ms. Goncalves expresses enthusiasm regarding her experiences as a part of the school’s community.

“The staff [and] teachers have been so helpful and supportive. They’ve been there for me since day one,” Ms. Goncalves said. “I love learning about my students’ cultures and backgrounds. They tell me about how their day has been, the things they were happy about, [and] the things they’re struggling with.”

Queer activism in the United States dates back decades, with many attributing the birth of queer rights movements to the aftermath of the Stonewall riots. In the early hours of June 28, 1969, the New York City Police Department raided Stonewall Inn, a gay club in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. As the police began to arrest club patrons for violations such as cross-dressing and congregating in a queer space, crowds began to form around the scene. What set Stonewall apart from many other previous raids was that the queer patrons fought back. Instead of quietly submitting to the arrests, people resisted the police, resulting in full-blown riots lasting six days and involving hundreds of people. 

The Stonewall riots served as a motivating force for LGBTQA+ political activism for decades to come. It was a spur for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States and led to the creation of dozens of gay rights organizations. The celebration of Pride Month every June is a way to recognize the impact of queer individuals throughout history, while also acknowledging the work that still needs to be done to someday reach equality for those in the LGBTQA+ community.

As Pride Month continues to gain more recognition, corporations seize the opportunity to present themselves as allies, often in ways that prioritize monetary gain over genuine support. Profits made from various pride-themed campaigns often go directly to the company, rather than being given to organizations that actually support the LGBTQA+ community. Moreover, numerous corporations participate in ‘rainbow washing’,  a subset of rainbow capitalism. Rainbow washing is the usage of LGBTQA+ symbols, especially rainbow colors, during Pride Month while failing to support the community year-round. An example of rainbow washing might include corporations changing their social media profiles to rainbow-colored versions of their brand logo. However, it’s not uncommon for the rainbow variant of the logo to be displayed in Western countries, while the logo remains standard in countries where LGBTQA+ rights are currently being repressed. This selective support lessens the true meaning of Pride as a commitment to equality.  

Additionally, there have been many instances where the support shown by large companies interestingly disappears in the face of controversy. For example, in 2023, Target removed certain items from its annual Pride collection after receiving backlash from conservative groups. This exposed a broader issue: while corporations profit from queer identity during Pride Month, they often fail to offer real support when it becomes politically inconvenient for them. True allyship means staying firm and showing dedication even when it might be deemed unpopular or risky. If companies are met with criticism and respond in the way Target did, it reveals that their supposed commitment is more about maintaining public image than fighting for equality. 

However, representation still does matter, especially for LGBTQA+ youth who might feel isolated or invisible. When these individuals see queer identity reflected in advertising and media, it might offer an opportunity of being part of a mainstream culture in which they often feel ostracized from. That still does not change the fact that visibility is not enough. Companies simply offering rainbow packaging will not make a difference in the experience that millions of people around the world face in discovering their identity. These gestures will remain surface-level unless they are accompanied by real, sustained efforts – like donations to LGBTQA+ organizations, support for inclusive legislation, and year-round support, in place of seasonal marketing opportunities. 

Fortunately, in spite of rainbow capitalism’s chokehold on America, there are some companies that move beyond performative gestures and showcase what real corporate allyship looks like. Popular ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s has consistently supported LGBTQA+ rights and resources since its founding. Ben & Jerry’s has had inclusive policies, such as same-sex domestic partner benefits to employees, since 1989. They were among one of the first brands to introduce such policies. They also have collaborated with numerous LGBTQA+ organizations like GLAAD to raise awareness and funds for their campaigns. Additionally, they have introduced limited-edition flavors to specifically support LGBTQA+ rights and causes. Ben & Jerry’s is a prime example of how companies that align their values with their actions can actually become trailblazers for inspiring change. 

Rainbow capitalism ultimately reflects a deep-rooted issue of the commercialization of social justice. As consumers, it’s important for us to recognize instances of these exploitative practices within certain companies that center Pride Month around profits and monetary gain rather than activism. Pride began as a protest against marginalization and police brutality. It is not just a celebration, it is a powerful statement of resilience and progress. We shouldn’t lose sight of that history. Pride should not be a ploy for profit. If companies want to celebrate it, they should do so with integrity, accountability, and year-round support.

The Trump administration began their attack on national parks by delaying hiring of seasonal employees and freezing vacant permanent permissions, resulting in a shortage of crucial employees at national parks. Nearly 1,000 National Park Service (NPS) workers were fired in alignment with President Trump’s effort to downsize the federal workforce. While recent court orders have ensured that the NPS is authorized to reinstate these employees, the NPS will still be facing significant logistical and financial challenges, possibly leaving many parks understaffed as peak visitation season approaches. Moreover, the administration called for the cancellation of 34 Park Service building leases. Nine visitor centers and visitor contact stations are currently slated for lease cancellations. 

Despite the NPS’ staffing numbers declining, the massive influx of tourists has not budged. In 2024 alone, the NPS reported a record 331.9 million visits. This is a major issue for park operations and visitor safety, as the decline in the workforce coupled with a large number of tourists could negatively impact the ability to manage crowds and maintain services. It is impossible to expect national parks to safely welcome millions of visitors without adequate staff and resources. 

Parks have shown significant economic benefit in the past. A decade after Yellowstone was established as a park in 1872, it became endangered due to a lack of protection. The same thing happened to Yosemite, resulting in parks receiving federal protection. Hiring multiple workers to each park helped alleviate the Great Depression era by creating over 415,000 jobs. 

In addition to national parks’ economic benefits, it’s impossible to forget how crucial they are for environmental conservation. They protect clean water, air, and diverse ecosystems. The fewer staff there are to maintain these spaces, the more we risk environmental decline. Additionally, the parks are home to over 600 species of endangered animals protected by the Endangered Species Act. With the removal of the very people enforcing the act, the animals are put on the brink of extinction from poachers. Previously endangered species like the Bald Eagle are only currently thriving due to the Endangered Species Act and the national parks protecting them, and could face consequences under the current policies. 

People from all across the political spectrum hold cherished memories in family parks, whether that be family vacations, ventures for inspiration, or solo getaways. If we allow these lands to be neglected, we risk losing history, biodiversity, and the experience to view the natural world from an open perspective. We must keep these natural wonders available for future generations to visit and appreciate. Protecting these parks is not a choice — it’s a duty.