Alabama high school students who did not pass the graduation exam yet this year have a reprieve.

The state school board voted last week to do away with the exam earlier than planned. This year’s group of seniors were to have been the last students required to pass it in order to graduate.

Brewton City Schools Superintendent Lynn Smith said the state department of education is moving toward end-of-course test to determine a student’s readiness for graduation.

“Right now we only have two end-of-course tests,” he said.

Smith said he believes state officials are hoping to improve state graduation rates by doing away with the graduation exam.

“(Brewton’s) graduation rate is pretty good,” Smith said.