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FOR RELEASE January 25, 1995
Contact: Kathryn Kahler (202) 401-3026
This is no time to back away from America's commitment to educational improvement. Education is primarily a state responsibility under local control, but it is also a national priority which requires a national commitment.
The American public clearly recognizes this. A poll just released by the Wall Street Journal shows that 80 percent of Americans say that the U.S. Department of Education fulfills a vital role. Others polls show that while a majority of Americans favor a balanced budget, only 22 percent favor balancing the budget while cutting spending on education.
We have worked hard, with a broad bipartisan, grassroots coalition, to empower local communities and states in their efforts to improve teaching and learning in their schools. More than 40 states have chosen to participate in the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, which helps support meaningful state and community school improvement efforts that are based on high academic and occupational standards.
The department has created new partnerships with states that emphasize unprecedented flexibility in its programs, fewer regulations, and broad waiver provisions from red tape. The administration has been a strong supporter of effective innovation, including charter schools, public school choice, and parental involvement in education.
Our nation is turning to education because education represents the cornerstone of our future. Proposals like the President's Middle Class Bill of Rights -- and its emphasis on expanded opportunities through increased education and training -- are the building blocks for this future, helping to ensure that all Americans achieve the economic security they deserve.