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A local state lawmaker says the STAAR test should be canceled this school year. Senator Jose Menendez made his request Wednesday in a letter to Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Education Agency. Menendez says the recent omicron surge had led to large numbers of absences among both students and staff, making the test difficult to administer. The senator suggests that the millions of dollars it costs to administer the test should be spent to support students, staff and school districts in other ways.