The Senate Education Committee has voted to refer to the full chamber a measure reducing the number of standardized tests Texas students must pass to graduate from high school.
The bill would cut from 15 to five standardized exams in core subjects students must pass to earn their diplomas.
Sponsored by Education Committee Chairman Dan Patrick, it mandates passing exams in English I and II, as well as Algebra I, biology and U.S. History.
The House Public Education Committee passed a similar measure last week, sending it to the full lower chamber for consideration.
Current law requires most high school students to take and pass 15 such exams.
But that has generated sharp criticism from students, parents, teachers and school administrators who worry about "over-testing" young people.
