No Plans? No Pomp

By Melissa August, Harriet Barovick, Elizabeth L. Bland, Roy B. White, Rebecca Winters

In order to walk in GRADUATION ceremonies at 14 Los Angeles-area high schools this June, seniors must provide school officials with proof they will ATTEND COLLEGE or trade school, enroll in the military or take on an apprenticeship or other training. Administrators say the aim is to show students their post-high school options. Some students have objected to the PRESSURE, and civil libertarians are considering a suit. But the policy seems to be working: 95% of the seniors have committed to postsecondary plans so far, up from 54% last year.