High school seniors get AIMS break

High school seniors who haven't passed the dreaded AIMS test got a break from Arizona lawmakers on Wednesday.

A bill to allow students to augment their failing Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards scores with extra credit work - so they can boost their AIMS scores and walk with their class next week - was passed by the House 21-4 and sent to Gov. Janet Napolitano.

The Senate passed the same bill Tuesday 22-5 with three senators not voting.

House Bill 2008 was passed just in time to help some seniors who would have been prevented from participating in graduation.

But an amendment by Sen. John Huppenthal, who represents Ahwatukee Foothills and Legislative District 20, limited the amount of students who could boost their AIMS score to 25 percent this year and next, 15 percent in the 2009-10 school year and 5 percent after that.

Lawmakers didn't give seniors a free ride. To qualify for the grade boost students must have completed all coursework, participated in tutoring opportunities to bring their AIMS score up and must have taken the test every time it was offered.

A similar bill was passed last year to help graduating seniors, but expired in January.

All three Ahwatukee Foothills lawmakers, Huppenthal, Rep. John McComish and Rep. Bob Robson voted for the bill, which Napolitano is expected to sign into law.