In 2016, with mounting pressure from parents, educators, and other stakeholders around the state pushing back against the volume of standardized tests students are required to take, the Texas Education Agency introduced the Texas Writing Pilot. This pilot was designed to study the feasibility of creating an alternative writing assessment that would assess a student's mastery of the essential knowledge and skills in writing through a portfolio writing assessment. Excitement for a different type of assessment rose across the state as many districts eagerly applied to participate in the pilot. But after three years of work from educators across the state on the pilot, the Texas Education Agency abruptly ended the project. Findings from this document analysis will bring to light timely insights for any teacher of writing not only regarding the ways in which we utilize assessment but also the ways in which we can use our voice to advocate for supports needed to more effectively teach writing.