Texas governor cancels standardized test requirement

AUSTIN (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday shelved the state's requirement for high-stakes standardized testing, with hundreds of school districts having already canceled classes and the state bracing for long-term closures to combat the coronavirus.

Abbott said he was also asking the federal government to waive its educational testing requirements for the school year.

The decision to do away with Texas' standardized test this year comes as the Republican governor has otherwise resisted telling schools, businesses or cities whether they should remain open, limit public gatherings or close altogether.