Eighth-grade algebra pupils will have to take 2 tests,

Texas students who are taking algebra in the eighth grade will have to sit for two standardized math tests this spring — one to satisfy state requirements and another to meet federal mandates.

The U.S. Department of Education has indicated that it will not approve the state’s request to ab- solve certain eighth-graders from taking the grade-level STAAR test on top of the algebra end-ofcourse exam.

“The waiver request was submitted because I do not believe that double testing middle school students is instructionally appropriate nor a valid evaluation of mathematics for Texas middle schools and high schools,” Texas Education Commissioner Mi- chael Williams said in a statement Thursday.

While the students will have to take both tests, only the algebra exam will count for state accountability ratings.

The double-testing issue emerged last year after the Legislature changed testing requirements so that only one math test — algebra — was needed to graduate to high school. But federal No Child Left Behind Act calls for students to take a high school test and an eighth-grade test.

The state submitted the waiver request late last year asking that the algebra test satisfy the federal requirement. It has now seen that similar waiver requests from other states have not been approved.