The Alaska House has passed legislation that would repeal the high school graduation exam.
The high school exit exam tests student aptitude in reading, English and mathematics.
House Bill 220, sponsored by Republican Pete Higgins of Fairbanks, terminates the exam as soon as the bill becomes law. It allows former students who earned enough high school credits to graduate to obtain their diploma even though they failed the exam.
Higgins says if the bill does become law, it will save the state $2.7 million in administrative costs.
The vote was 32-5. The measure now goes to the Senate.
