The governors of 45 U.S. states, meeting in Des Moines over the weekend, agreed to adopt a common formula to calculate high school graduation rates.
Such a formula will allow policy makers to measure more accurately student success and identify academic programs that need improving, the New York Times reported.
The non-binding agreement is expected to lead to a uniform accounting system to replace the current approach which the governors said often produces inaccurate or misleading information, the report said.
A common formula also would help the states comply with the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind. The law uses graduation rates to determine if schools are meeting annual progress requirements.
Raymond Simon, deputy secretary of education, said a federal study released last week "reaffirmed the urgency of redesigning the American high school."
States which have not agreed so far to adopt the new formula are California, Texas, Florida, Maryland and Wyoming. It was not clear if and when they would agree to the new plan.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
