Gov. Rick Scott is getting a sweeping education bill approved by the Florida legislature that would, among other things, limit the number of tests students take.

The Florida House passed HB 7069 on Thursday.

The bill would limit the time spent on state-authorized tests to no more than 45 hours a year.

The propsal also eliminates the 11th grade English tests, prohibits students from spending more than 5 percent of their total classroom hours on state-mandated exams and removes requirements that district must give final exams in every subject.

School districts would be also able to start the school year as early as August 10.

The bill also reduces the amount that student test scores count toward teach evaluations. There would also be an independent review of the new Florida Standards Assessments, and this years results would not be used in deciding whether third girade students can be promoted.

The legislation responds to a backlash that has built up in recent years over Florida's use of testing.