In a comprehensive action intended to change how the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) law is carried out, the U.S. Secretary of Education formally proposed a package of new regulations that would require state and local school officials to provide more and better information about high school graduation rates, student test performance, and the availability and quality of tutoring under the federal law. The proposed rules, which are now open for public comment, would standardize the definition states use in determining graduation rates, require schools to make extensive efforts to ensure eligible students know they can transfer to different schools or sign up for free tutoring, and force states to publish their scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress alongside their own test results. The rules also would clarify that state tests should assess students on more than basic skills. The Secretary said she is using her administrative powers because Congress and the Bush administration have been unable to agree on a reauthorized version of the NCLB law. Critics note that even with expedited review and publication, the proposed rules would not be in place until late August, charging that even if the regulations are in place in time for the coming school year, it would be unreasonable to expect districts and states to comply with them so soon, [Lynn Olson and Michele McNeil contributed to this report.]