This program serves as a gauge by which potentially targeted incumbents commit themselves to meet rigorous goals in attempts to strengthen their campaigns and work towards victory.

And each of the last two years, the A.F.T. has issued a "National Report Card" on the efforts of states to create rigorous, content-specific goals in English, math, social studies and science.

In 2008, the district changed to all day kindergarten in order to prepare its students to meet rigorous academic goals.

We need to set for them new and more rigorous goals.

According to the city's report, the survey questions in this category addressed whether "the school develops rigorous and meaningful academic goals that encourage students to do their best."

Canada has set the same rigorous goals for his own organization, but for him, the urge is the opposite: not to push the worst kids aside, but to recruit them even harder.