COLUMBUS (AP) — Requiring students to take standardized tests that are shorter and given once a year instead of twice is among the recommendations of an Ohio Senate advisory committee charged with studying the issue.

The committee, appointed last month, also recommended that the testing window be close to the end of the school year to provide more time for classroom instruction and less disruption.

The 30-member committee of teachers, parents, school leaders and policymakers serving on the committee were charged with providing advice to the Senate on how to improve state testing.

The recommendations made public Thursday also said schools should be moving in the direction of online testing.

Many people have complained that mandated tests linked to Common Core standards are too time-consuming and that the preparation distracts from deeper learning.