ST. PAUL, Minn. — Lawmakers are considering a bill that would do away with high-stakes graduation exams for high school students.

Instead, students would take tests designed to gauge whether they are ready for college or the workforce. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports (http://bit.ly/Ydig5t) the tests wouldn’t require a certain score to get a diploma — and that’s something some Republican lawmakers and business owners disagree with.

Republican Sen. Roger Chamberlain of Lino Lakes says many agree some reform is needed, but getting rid of benchmarks is baffling.

Democratic Sen. Kevin Dahle of Northfield says a group of educators voted in November to drop the graduation tests and he’ll resist efforts to a certain score a prerequisite to a diploma.

Under the bill, students would start taking college readiness exams in eighth grade.