Legislation would allow an appeal on graduation test

The House Education Committee took no action on a bill that would do away with many "frowny face" high school diplomas, which indicate that the student did not pass the state's basic skills test.

Lawmakers said they would like to see some changes in the language of the bill so that it would not defeat the purpose of Utah's high school graduation exam.

HB77 would establish an appeals process for those students not passing the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test, Utah's graduation exam. But some lawmakers said that it would defeat the purpose of the UBSCT — a measure to indicate to colleges and businesses that students have attained basic skills.

Bill sponsor Kory Holdaway, R-Taylorsville, said HB77 would allow students to show competency in alternative ways, particularly students who are learning English as a second language and special needs students.

The Utah State Board of Education, Utah School Boards Association and Utah PTA are all in support of the measure.

"I am not opposed to high stakes tests, but I have heartburn when a student, by no fault of his own, may not have the skills in that particular issue they are being measured by," Holdaway said. "The State Office would put together a process where they could say 'hey, I am a little different than the average student."'

Right now, students who attempt the UBSCT reading, math and writing tests at least three times and fail still can get a high school diploma, but it notes that they didn't pass the test.

Without the standard diploma, students are ineligible for college financial aid.

"I am uncomfortable withholding opportunities from students who have legitimate reasons for not passing the test," Holdaway said.

But some lawmakers said it would be a policy shift in the law and could lead to the downfall of the UBSCT.

"The UBSCT was an attempt to show (colleges and businesses) that kids coming out of high school have basic skills," said Rep. Becky Lockhart, R-Provo. "With your bill, what you are saying is 'well, not really any more' and there will be no way for us to know if they have the basic skills — if we aren't going to use (the test) for what we need, let's just get rid of it."

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