Dive Summary:

• High-performing 3rd- and 5th-graders in Texas won't be getting out of the State of Texas Assessments for Academic Readiness exam despite legislation passed by state lawmakers in May.
• Before Texas could apply for a waiver that would exempt the students from the No Child Left Behind-mandated exams, the U.S. Department of Education signaled that it would deny such a request.
• The state is still waiting for word on another waiver that would release its schools from several of No Child Left Behind's exacting requirements, placing it among 41 other waived states and the District of Columbia.

From the article:

... Such a change, however, required federal approval because the No Child Left Behind Act mandates math and reading tests for all students from 3rd- to 8th-grade. ...