Plus, some leaders noted that businesses have the option of finding out if applicants passed the UBSCT and therefore have basic skills, and some may — though the Deseret News failed to find any.

But Stephenson said he hopes that after the November election there will be a greater appetite among newly elected leaders to toughen up the rules. In recent years, some lawmakers have attempted to require students pass the test to receive any kind of diploma through legislation, but those efforts were thwarted.

"It's my feeling and hope that (after the election) the state school board will change drastically — there could be seven totally new people there with a greater emphasis on accountability and free market," Stephenson said. "That speaks well for the hope I have in changing the complexion of the state school board.

"Also there may be some changes in the House or the Senate, which could give a greater opportunity to pass legislation which would say to the state school board, 'This time we mean it, you're not going to give diplomas if a student hasn't passed a basic skills test."'

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E-mail: terickson@desnews.com