Under his proposal, "My sense is, students will take their education more seriously, that when they take that math class, they will know that this is going to assist me in passing the high-stakes math section of the test," Stephenson said.

But Carol Lear, director of school law and legislation for the State Office of Education, said students are taking the test seriously now; yanking the alternative path will not help anyone.

"If a student doesn't get a diploma . . . it will drastically affect our graduation rate . . . (which) has all kinds of implications about businesses coming to Utah," Lear said.

There's also concern that student testing phobias could have far more dire consequences under Stephenson's proposal.

"It would be difficult for them to qualify for any type of financial aid to continue in any kind of post-high school training," state associate superintendent Ray Timothy said. "I think that's probably the greatest detriment right there."

The proposal also comes as public and higher education experts discuss ways students might demonstrate basic skills outside of a written test, Timothy said.

Stephenson said he cannot attend today's meeting. But he said the committee still could discuss the proposal and vote whether to adopt it as a committee bill during the 2007 Legislature.

---

E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com