AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - More than half of Texas ninth graders who last spring failed one or more of the state's new standardized tests skipped their change to retest.

The Dallas Morning News reports (http://dallasne.ws/TASB8u ) Monday that skipping retests could put them off track to graduate, since passing tests in different subjects is a requirement for graduation.

Passing rates on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, indicate that half of those who failed English, algebra, biology and geography passed up the chance to retake them in July.

Their next opportunity will come this week when the five exams - including separate reading and writing tests for English I - will be given.

There are three exams each in math, science, social studies, reading and writing.

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Information from: The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com

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