While you're right that more than 80 percent of Americans support graduation requirements in theory [see "Resist urge to 'refine' graduation testing"], when faced with the reality of the impact on their communities and children, support will inevitably drop. It did here in Massachusetts once the battle was joined, and the teachers union ran a $1 million ad campaign in opposition to high-stakes testing. We've been able to maintain a fairly steady 55-40 percent edge in support of graduation requirements over the last two years, with 2-1 support on "push" questions (i.e., "If you knew that students can take the tests multiple times and get extra help&."). Getting to over 90 percent passing in the Class of 2003 by the end of 12th grade, with summer and then continuing community college remedial programs available, has helped a lot. But it's still a struggle.
Advocates for graduation requirements need to be ready to fight a political as well as educational battle. As is true in other settings, if there is no controversy, you're probably not doing much.
Bill Guenther, President
MassInsight Education
Boston, Massachusetts