Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is sending out a strong warning that he will kill any proposal that does away with the high school exit exam.
The announcement comes after a key budget committee voted earlier this week to eliminate the exam.
The vote shocked state education leaders including superintendent of public instruction Jack O'Connell.
The committee's proposal was to eliminate the requirement, which has been in place since 2006, but not the test itself.
"The governor has been a long-standing and strong supporter of the California High School Exit Exam and will veto any proposal to eliminate it," Schwarzenegger's spokeswoman, Camille Anderson,told the Chronicle.
Committee members say getting rid of the exam will save the state about $8 million a year.
A vote on the committee's plan could take place as early as Monday.
