AUSTIN (AP) - The Education Committee has referred to the full Texas Senate a measure allowing local school districts to decide how much they want STAAR exam results to count toward high school students’ grades.

Texas law requires that scores on the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness exam count 15 percent of high school students’ grades in core courses.

But the rule has been widely criticized by parents and district superintendents. It has been suspended each of the first two years the STAAR test has been administered.

Education Committee Chairman Dan Patrick proposes allowing local school districts to decide if, and how much, they want STAAR results to factor into final grades — from zero to 15 percent.

The committee voted unanimously Thursday to send the bill to the Senate.

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