Vice President, Communications
Merrill helps Texans better understand the research, data and policy choices shaping the state's future. Before joining Texas 2036, she spent more than three decades advising Fortune 500 companies, trade associations and nonprofits across Texas on strategic communications and public affairs.
Dr. Tracy Ayrhart is parent of two public elementary school students and vice president of Data and Research at Texas 2036. Spring STAAR End-of-Course results became available to families through the online Family Portal on June 10, 2026, with grades 3–8 following on June 16, 2026. When yours arrive, this is the walkthrough I use…
Dr. Tracy Ayrhart is a parent of two public elementary school students and vice president of Data and Research at Texas 2036. Like a lot of Texas parents, I’ll be logging into the Family Portal in mid-June to look at my kids’ STAAR results. One just finished third grade, the other just finished fifth. It’s…
Earlier this week, we shared that Spring 2026 STAAR End of Course (EOC) results showed growth compared to 2025 in every subject and across every major student group statewide. When you examine how performance varied across Texas’ 20 Education Service Center (ESC) regions, that headline mostly holds, but the story of growth underneath it is…
Statewide, 54% of Texas students met grade-level expectations in Algebra I this spring. But that number conceals a wide range of performance across the state’s 20 Education Service Center regions. That range becomes visible when you look at the map below. Percent of Students on Grade Level in Algebra I in 2026, by ESC Region…
The latest 2026 STAAR EOC results show encouraging progress for high school students across Texas. According to preliminary data released by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) on June 10, the percentage of students meeting grade-level expectations increased in every end-of-course subject. Students posted gains in Algebra I, Biology, English I and English II. 2026 English…