By KRWG News
New Mexico – High school juniors could get a reprieve from having to pass a new state test to graduate because of legislation backed by the Public Education Department.
The Senate Education Committee unanimously approved legislation on Wednesday to suspend a number of student tests in the 2011-2012 year because of New Mexico's budget squeeze.
The biggest change is for this year's high school juniors, who have been preparing to take a comprehensive test this spring and they needed to pass it to graduate next year.
Under the bill, juniors will take the test in the next two months, but it won't count toward their graduation. However, passing the test will resume being a graduation requirement for this year's sophomore class when they face the exit exam in another year.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.