VOA慢速英语:8 US States to Test High School Changes

that has some ideas是定语从句，修饰One group。这句话还可以换一个说法：One group called the National Center on Education and the Economy has some ideas.

2.primary and secondary educational institutions, to do whatever it takes to get our kids college ready.

whatever和no matter what的区别

no matter what 只能引导状语从句，而不引导名词性从句。而 whatever 既可引导名词性从句(＝anything that)，也可引导状语从句(＝no matter what)：

1)引导名词性从句(只用whatever)：

无论他做什么都是对的。

正：Whatever he did was right.

误：No matter what he did was right.

无论他说什么似乎都有道理。

正：Whatever he says sounds reasonable.

误：No matter what he says sounds reasonable.

山羊找到什么就吃什么。

正：Goats eat whatever they find.

误：Goats eat no matter what they find.

2)引导状语从句(两者可换用)：

无论你说什么，我都不会相信你。

正：Whatever you say，I won’t believe you.

正：No matter what you say，I won’t believe you.

无论发生什么，都要保持镇定。

正：Keep calm，whatever happens.

正：Keep calm，no matter what happens.

3.Students who volunteer will take board examination classes similar to those found in other parts of the world.

similar to是classes的后置定语。found in other parts of the world是过去分词作后置定语，修饰those。

4.It doesn't particularly attest to any level of accomplishment.

attest to证实, 证明了

例句：Several witnesses can attest to her good character.
            好几位证人证实她品行端正。

5.What we're trying to do here is to change the system in the United States from one that is based on the time that is spent in the seat to one that is based on your actual accomplishments."

What we're trying to do here是这句话的主语。后面的句子比较长，不过了解了整个结构就比较简单了，总体来说是change from one to another one,其他的都是修饰成分。