The state education department has revamped its standards for students learning English and math.
It's part of an ongoing effort to win back teachers and parents who opposed the previous guidelines known as Common Core, which tested on more difficult material and assessed teachers based on student scores.
Last year, 230,000 parents across the state refused to let their children take the state tests in protest.
The state says teachers and parents were more involved in building the new curriculum, but Common Core is not going away entirely.
"We want to do this in a way that is respectful of teachers and the time they need to really work with those new standards and the implementation of those standards. So we believe it should be done in a very thoughtful, organized, and collaborative way," said MaryEllen Elia, commissioner of the state Department of Education. "I think our world is constantly changing. There are more and more demands on students, whether they're going directly into a career, into the workforce, or whether they're going into college or university. And we need to be reflective of those demands."
Officials say the changes are substantial, but that standards will remain rigourous.