The Business Council has issued a statement underlining its support for the learning standards and graduation requirements that have been adopted by the state's Board of Regents.

The standards, which were developed with the support of The Business Council initially, are being phased in beginning with the current school year. When fully implemented they will, among other things, require that students pass rigorous Regents examinations in core subjects in order to receive a high-school diploma in New York.

The Council's statement noted that a survey of its members had found that employers statewide "remain very concerned about the quality of high-school graduates available for jobs."

"Our members indicated overwhelming support for higher standards in the survey," the statement said.