1.   Forty-two states had raised high school graduation requirements.

2.   Among other issues on the table is whether to make pro bono work a graduation requirement.

3.   And developing a resume, filling out a job application and learning proper interviewing techniques could become graduation requirements, too.

4.   And Mills said that while he recognized that the tougher graduation requirements would be difficult for many students, he did not believe students would leave school.

5.   As a result, he said, admissions standards have been lowered, so more students require remedial education, and graduation requirements have been eased.

6.   Attention jumped from more testing to ending automatic promotion, to teacher certification changes, to more accountability, to higher graduation requirements, to vouchers.

7.   Board President Ken Bennett said Keegan had not discussed it with him, although he added he would not oppose delaying the graduation requirement if that proves necessary.

8.   - Higher graduation requirements.

9.   Aides to the leaders of both chambers say they have heard widespread concerns that the new graduation requirements may deny diplomas to thousands of students.

10.   But they also say they had no idea until last month that so many kids would fail to meet the higher graduation requirements.