A plan on school standards

WASHINGTON – A coalition of 13 states, including Oregon, confirmed plans Sunday to require tougher high school courses and diploma requirements, changes that could affect about one in three students.

The announcement is the most tangible sign that many governors, in the capital for a summit on improving high schools, want to see progress quickly.

The other participating states are Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Texas.

The states have committed to making core classes and tests more rigorous, and to match graduation standards with expectations of employers and colleges. They also pledged to hold colleges more accountable for ensuring students graduate.

Such changes would require time and significant legislative work, as teachers unions, school boards, legislatures and parents would be affected. Governors, school chiefs and business executives will lead the efforts in each state.

Their network will aim to enforce the American Diploma Project, an effort launched last year to prepare every high school student for college-level work.

It calls for big changes – for example, requiring every student to take rigorous math and English regardless of career plans and tying college admissions to high school exit exams.