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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- High school seniors who fail Utah's new accountability tests still will get diplomas, but the documents will say how they did on the tests, the state Board of Education has decided.
The board said Thursday that the students still will receive real high school diplomas, not just certificates of completion, but the diplomas must state whether students have passed the reading, math and science portions of the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test.
The diplomas will be accepted on applications for federal financial aid for college, said David Feitz, deputy executive director of the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority.
There had been concern that the previously planned completion certificates would not be accepted for federal aid.
Mark H. Spencer, associate finance commissioner for the Utah System of High Education, said the diplomas will be acceptable for admission to Utah's colleges.
Students who lack the skills measured by the tests "might struggle to meet eligibility requirements at some Utah colleges," but they would be accepted at the state's open-enrollment and community colleges, he said.
Accountability proponents had argued that granting regular diplomas to those who did not pass the tests decreased the incentive for students to improve their school performance.
Others contended that withholding diplomas puts already-struggling students at further disadvantage.
Myron Cottam, associate state school superintendent, said, "The diploma is important, and I don't have a problem with differentiating between those who passed and who did not pass. But the transcripts are what is going out to colleges, and the (test scores are) on them, so colleges will have what they need to make determinations."
The state board requires that students try to pass UBSCT at least three times in order to get a diploma. Beginning with the graduating class of 2008, they must show they took advantage of their districts' opportunities for remediation.
Districts will make their own decisions about how to help students who haven't passed the test, but how much remediation is offered could depend on actions of the Legislature.
The base budget proposed by the House Appropriations Committee does not include money for the remediation.
Sen. Howard Stephenson, chairman of the appropriations committee and president of the Utah Taxpayers Association, is sponsoring a bill to offer vouchers to pay for UBSCT remediation from private tutoring sources.
Brett Moulding, state director of curriculum, said the Legislature should provide up to $10 million to school districts so they can create remediation programs personalized to the learning gaps of individual students.
"Then (districts) can put remediation in the high schools based on student needs, focused within daily school schedule and involving parents, students and school counselors in preparing for retake of the tests," he said.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
