In a 92-6 vote Monday, the House passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, to delink state tests from high school graduation requirements. Under House Bill 1046, the state’s testing system would be left intact, but successful completion of the Certificate of Academic Achievement or Certificate of Individual Achievement would no longer be required for students to graduate.

“Requiring our students to pass a federally designed test that was never intended to be linked to graduation is an unnecessary burden that’s been more of a hindrance than a help,” said MacEwen. “If we simply trust the curriculum and our great teachers, I believe students will be adequately prepared for the important next steps of life.”

The changes proposed by House Bill 1046 would save the state roughly $21 million in the 2017-19 biennium, and $18 million each biennium thereafter.

“This bill would not only save our state tens of millions of dollars, but it would also put a stop to an ineffective system that has diverted students away from learning,” said MacEwen. “I’m encouraged by the vote we took today, which sent a strong statement that we believe our job is to help create lifelong learners, not lifelong test-takers.”

House Bill 1046 now advances to the Senate for further consideration.