Penn. Graduation Requirements Spark Fresh Fight

Pennsylvania’s governor and department of education have suffered the second big setback in one year in their push to revamp high school graduation requirements.

The latest twist came on Monday, when Gov. Edward G. Rendell’s administration temporarily shelved plans to develop graduation competency exams in hopes of making peace with legislative critics who felt the administration was moving too fast.

“Under the current circumstance and to allow the emerging consensus to develop, we will not spend funds for state-mandated graduation test development” under a seven-year contract signed last month, Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak said in a letter to ranking members of the House...