Letting adults go back and take the UBSCT doesn't work, Lear said. Adults would have to come into a public school to take the test during the day with the other students, and the state has issues of older people mixing in with teenagers.

The state education office has been working with Holdaway on his bill, which would create an appeals process for students with disabilities, who are learning English, or kids who just don't test well.

Students, for instance, might otherwise show they have basic skills by passing a college entrance test. English language learners could show improvement on an alternative test. And special education students could show they've met requirements of their individualized education plan under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Holdaway said.

"I think there's been value in having the UBSCT there. I think it's giving more accountability, putting names of individual students in front of teachers and administrators and saying, hey, we need a little more attention," Holdaway said.

But, he added, "We need to do better. ... Every other state in the country that has high-stakes testing ... has an appeals process. We don't have that."

The effect: More students will end up getting diplomas — the opposite outcome of Stephenson's proposal.

Holdaway and Stephenson have not talked to each other about their proposals or whether to create a compromise bill.

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com