Lawmakers at the Capitol reacted with disbelief today at a report in the Rocky Mountain News that Boulder's public schools will eliminate the time-honored distinction of recognizing their top high school graduates.

Two Republican lawmakers said the development--ending the practice of designating the student with the best grades as the valedictorian--reaffirms the need for a bill they will introduce as part of the GOP's 2008 education agenda. That measure would establish Colorado's first-ever statewide curriculum standard to graduate high school.

"The action in Boulder not only is a swipe at competition, which makes our economy go 'round, but also at academic excellence," said Sen. Josh Penry, R- Fruita, who is sponsoring the graduation-standards proposal with the GOP's Rep. Rob Witwer, of Genessee.

"It sends out a message to students across Colorado that academic performance doesn't matter all that much," Penry said. "That is precisely the opposite of what we should be telling our kids so they can compete in the 21st century economy."