The board suggested making high school kids earn C's or better in 15 state-mandated course requirements, plus pass the CRT at the end of the year, in order to receive credit toward graduation. It also wanted to extend those requirements to a few classes in middle school grades. And it sought an extra $203 million to bring needed tutoring to kids as young as kindergarten, to ensure they're able to meet the higher standards.

Some schools, including Snowcrest in Eden and Center City charter school in Salt Lake City, already have similar programs in place.

But for a statewide program, the measures were controversial and expensive. So the board recently voted to shelf most of the plan and take more time to study how best to implement it.

The board's move appears anti-climactic for Leavitt, who canceled plans to publicly sign an executive order regarding competency-based education as one of the last things he'd do as governor.

"I feel very good about the fact we have accomplished the primary, strategic goal I had when I became governor, which was to improve the system and change what we value, and I think that will pay dividends for the next quarter-century," Leavitt said in a private interview. "I would leave here with full satisfaction my mission has been accomplished."

E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com