California high school students could obtain diplomas without passing an exit exam under legislation approved Tuesday by the Assembly. The measure, Assembly Bill 1379, is similar to legislation vetoed in 2005 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Passage of a high-stakes examination measuring mathematics and language skills is not the only way to demonstrate proficiency, according to supporters of AB 1379. The bill would require the state to develop alternative methods of measuring academic competence of students unable to pass the exit exam.