HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania's proposed Keystone Exams cleared another hurdle Wednesday as a state Board of Education panel urged the entire board to approve the new high school graduation competency tests.

The 7-1 vote by the board's Council of Basic Education followed about two hours of discussion over an issue that has already received two years of debate.

Board Chairman Joseph Torsella, who secured endorsements for the plan from key legislators and education advocacy groups, said he was optimistic the full board would approve the latest version when it meets today. That would clear the way for a final regulatory review of rules to use the new tests.

"It is not perfect," but represents a compromise among divergent viewpoints, he said.

The new tests would be phased in starting in 2010 and replace the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests now administered in the 11th grade. Students would take the Keystone Exams in grades nine through 12 as they complete their course work. Their exam scores would count toward their final grades.

Proponents said the plan would more effectively measure student progress toward meeting statewide academic standards, while allowing local districts to substitute their own tests with state approval. Critics insist the new tests are too costly and could unfairly penalize students who do poorly on them.

Several opponents objected to counting the test scores as at least one-third of the final grade, as well as a provision that would assign a zero to any student who scores below the lowest proficiency level.

Shauna D'Alessandro, speaking for two groups that represent many school districts in southeastern and southwestern Pennsylvania, said flunking the exam could mean failing a course even for a student who has high grades.