Such criticisms are discussed regularly by policymakers. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Steve Laing in 2002 proposed high school students take four years of English, and three years each of math and science, plus another half year of art.

The Utah Board of Education and former Gov. Mike Leavitt later looked to ratchet up expectations for students and push "competency-based education" in the "Performance Plus" proposal in 2003.

But the board left graduation requirements the same, and backed off requiring an additional three focused units of credit to allow for local control. Many parents feared their students, especially if they fail a graduation requirement, would lose opportunities to explore subjects through electives.

This past year, Huntsman assembled a group to examine high school rigor. The group recommended — though nothing came of it — a "smart core" pattern of three years each of science and social science and four of English and math, group member and Davis Superintendent Bryan Bowles said. Parents and students would sign an informed consent slip regarding that preferred academic program, proposed by the American Diploma Project. Flexibility also would be given to students wishing to pursue technical disciplines.

Bowles believes flexibility is key to making higher expectations work.

"Parents are the customers," Bowles said. "Parents need more voice, not less voice."

Daw and Dougall believe the substitute bill allows for needed flexibility, and say students can focus their core requirements in areas of interest. Classes like accounting and agricultural biology, as well as calculus and physics, would count.

The pair have been talking with state public education and higher education officials. Rick Wheeler, vice president for college affairs at Snow College, for one supports the concept to generally better prepare students for life.

The State Office of Education is examining the idea.

"The main concern is, is it possible, and if it is possible, what will it do to other programs?" Utah Associate Superintendent Myron Cottam said. For instance, would small schools have enough teachers to teach an extra required year or two of core courses? What about scheduling?

"Those are the issues we're looking at right now."

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com