States Target High Schools for Changes

Governors push proposals to raise expectations.

Proposals to make high school more rigorous continue to surface in the states.

Governors, lawmakers, and blue-ribbon panels are championing the plans, which are fueled by local and national concerns about economic competitiveness and jobs.

But the agenda is growing to include calls for better middle school preparation, more flexible options for students who are falling behind, and stronger incentives for teenagers to continue their...