Mills Calls for Higher Standards for N.Y. Students, Schools

By Drew Lindsay

Less than two months into his new job, New York State Commissioner of Education Richard P. Mills has rolled out two high-profile initiatives that aim to raise standards for the state's 2.7 million students and its worst schools.

Mr. Mills warned 14 failing New York City schools last month that they would have to improve student performance by the end of the year or be closed. The move is the first step in his plan to put as many as 500 poor-performing schools on a state watch list as a signal to shape up or be shut down.

At a meeting of the state board of regents earlier this month, Mr. Mills also proposed raising...