Finance Committee Cuts High School Graduation Test

The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee voted Tuesday (June 8, 1999) to delete $10.1 million for developing the new high-stakes high school graduation test. Unless the committee's action is changed by the full Legislature and governor later in the budget process, the action will eliminate the controversial tests before they begin.

Last session, the Legislature approved Governor Thompson's proposal to develop the test and require students in the class of 2003 and beyond to pass it in order to receive diplomas. However, parents, educators and others began raising questions about the ramifications of the test and about the fairness of relying on a single test to determine whether a student may graduate.

The committee made a powerful statement against the test with its 13-3 bipartisan vote to cut the funding. They rejected a compromise under which students would take the test and a notation be placed on the diploma that the student either passed or failed it.