The state Board of Education's controversial proposal calling for high school exit exams has taken another hit, this time from the state House Education Committee.

In a letter to the state board, the committee yesterday wrote it has "serious concerns" and "strongly recommends" the board "step back and re-evaluate" the proposed changes that would begin with the class of 2014.

The criticism comes a week after the full state Senate took action aimed at derailing the proposal by voting 48-2 in favor of a bill that would give the General Assembly, not the state board, the authority to impose any new graduation requirements. No such bill has been passed in the House.

The state board also is getting more criticism than praise from the general public. At least 130 school boards and more than 20 statewide organizations have come out in opposition.

The state board's proposal was published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on May 17, triggering a 30-day comment period.

Jim Buckheit, executive director of the state board, said nearly 1,000 letters and e-mails were received.

That is far more than the 250 comments generated by proposed special education regulations and 300 comments from proposed teacher certification regulations.

Mr. Buckheit said most of the feedback on the exams is negative.

The proposal calls for students to pass six of 10 graduation competency assessments -- called GCAs -- in math, language arts, social studies and science; the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests; Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams; or a local assessment that independent evaluators certify is equivalent to the graduation competency assessments.

School districts can choose which of the options, or combination of options, they will accept. The districts would be required to provide remedial help to those who do not pass the exams.

In its letter to the board, the committee raised a range of concerns, including questioning the rationale behind the tests.

Supporters have noted that not all graduating students score "proficient" or better on the existing state exams. They say the competency exams would create a more meaningful diploma.

But the committee said the PSSA has never been "validated to be used as an exit exam and was never designed as such."

It also said local assessments have not been analyzed to see whether they are a faulty measure, and suggested such a study be done.

The committee suggested that if some local assessments are found not to meet state academic standards, then the state Department of Education should provide assessment help to those districts.

Another question was whether the proposed changes violate the Public School Code, which provides for local school districts to make final graduation decisions.

The committee raised concerns about the costs to school districts and practical issues about how changes would be implemented, given that as many as 57,000 students may need remedial help.

It said the proposed exams are not equivalent to each other, as some test broad content and others specific course content.

It noted that high-stakes testing in some other states has had some "significant negative consequences," such as increased dropout rates, for impoverished, minority and special needs students.

The board is awaiting comments from the Independent Regulatory Review Commission, which has until July 17 to submit its remarks.

After that, the state board will decide whether to make changes and how to proceed.

Any proposal would still have a way to go after that, including another trip to the House and to the Senate education committees. Ultimately, it could wind up for full House and Senate votes if their education committees reject it.