Education officials are backing away from a plan to require test scores for a high school diploma. 

Rhode Island Education Commissioner Ken Wagner has submitted a new plan that would create special commendations for students with high test scores but would not require them. Wagner tells Rhode Island Public Radio’s Elisabeth Harrison that standardized test scores should not get in the way of students’ graduation.

Elisabeth Harrison's journalism background includes everything from behind-the-scenes work with the CBS Evening News to freelance documentary production. She joined the WRNI team in 2007 as a Morning Edition...