Ohio needs to shorten its new state tests and give students, teachers and schools a three year "safe harbor" on any negative consequences from bad scores, the state Senate Advisory Committee on Testing decided last night.

State Sen. Peggy Lehner, who created the committee, said the group of teachers, superintendents and legislators unanimously made several recommendations Wednesday.

Among them:

- Cut the new tests from one round (in February and March) and a second round (in April and May) to just one round in May.

- Make them shorter.

- Wait three years until people are comfortable with the new state and Common Core standards and tests before holding students, schools or teachers accountable for poor scores.

- Let the Ohio Department of Education decide which vendor should provide the tests.

(Read more at Cleveland.com)