DENVER (AP) — Students in 11 states and the District of Columbia will spend less time next year taking tests based on the Common Core standards, a decision made in response to widespread opposition to testing requirements.

The decision to reduce testing by about 90 minutes was made Wednesday by the states and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for Colleges and Career, or PARCC.

The PARCC tests are administered to students in grades three to eight and once in high school. As a result of the decision, the math and English exams will only be given once a year instead of twice.

PARCC is one of two multi-state tests tied to the Common Core standards, which spell out what reading and math skills students should master in each grade.

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