Editor’s Note: As Arizona Capitol Times went to press May 12, final action on S1038, a rewritten AIMS bill, had not taken place. The following article is provided as background.

Key Senate Republicans said May 10 they have reached a compromise to temporarily loosen the fast-approaching requirement that students pass the AIMS test for a high school diploma.

The compromise would allow students in the first two affected graduating classes — 2006 and 2007 — to augment up to 25 per cent of their test scores with points earned by A, B or C grades on required coursework, senators said.

That would have the effect of providing help to students within striking distance of passing the math, reading and writing test but not undermining the test’s overall contribution to education accountability, the supporters said.

The proposal was scheduled to be considered by a House-Senate conference committee as a rewrite to a House-passed AIMS bill (S1038).

AIMS — short for Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards — is intended to measure whether a student has mastered minimum curriculum standards set by the state.

Starting with the graduating class of 2006 — current juniors — students must pass the AIMS test to graduate.

Supporters of AIMS and the graduation requirement call them important tools to help improve academic performance of schools and students.

Critics of the graduation requirement say they fear that thousands of students will fail the test and be unable to get diplomas, resulting in lost opportunities in life and potentially costly lawsuits against the state.

“I think we have reached a compromise of these two different worlds colliding — political pressure and a desire to keep accountability in the system,” said Sen. Thayer Verschoor, R-22, a leading critic of the graduation requirement.

The compromise would create “a safety valve for those that are close” to the passing score, said Senate President Ken Bennett, a former state Board of Education president and AIMS test supporter who negotiated the compromise with Mr. Verschoor.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, another leading AIMS supporter, called the proposal “unfortunate” and predicted it would boost grade inflation.

“I will continue to work for high standards and I will send a superintendent’s certificate to every student who passes all three AIMS (parts) so if an employer wants to know if the student is proficient he can ask to see the superintendent’s certificate,” Mr. Horne said.

Some Lawmakers Say Move Is Watering Down Standards

The proposal also drew criticism from some lawmakers.

“We are giving in to political pressure,” said Sen. Toni Hellon, R-26. “We need to stand firm on something.”

Sen. Jim Waring, R-7, said the proposal would continue a trend of watering down AIMS. “It’ll never go back to where we are right now. That makes me very nervous,” Mr. Waring said.

A Democratic leader, Sen. Harry Mitchell of District 17, said the proposal sounded like a reasonable way to provide “some relief to kids for the first time” the graduation requirement applies.

“It takes a while to make sure that everybody is on board with studying what they need to study,” Mr. Mitchell said.

Mr. Verschoor earlier this session pushed a bill to repeal the graduation requirement outright, but he was forced to negotiate a compromise because Mr. Bennett, R-1, used his power as president to block the bill from reaching the full Senate.

The bill passed March 31 by the House would provide students with an alternative path to a high school diploma by dodging the requirement to pass AIMS if they meet certain other conditions.

Its requirements include near-perfect attendance, taking the test during all five opportunities, completing all AIMS-tested courses with C grades or better and taking newly offered remedial tutoring for AIMS.

The unveiling of the proposed compromise comes as the state Board of Education prepares this week to set a passage score for the latest version of the AIMS test. —