A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

  FOR RELEASE   
  January 15, 1997 

  Contact: Jane Glickman (202) 401-1576 
  Stephanie Babyak   (202) 401-1576

Connecticut Receives 3rd Year Goals 2000 Funds

U.S. Education Secretary Richard W. Riley announced today that Connecticut will receive a third year of support totaling $3,149,595 under the Goals 2000: Educate America Act to continue efforts to improve teaching and learning.

States that participate in Goals 2000 receive funds to help launch and sustain ongoing school improvement efforts to raise student achievement by setting higher standards, involving parents in schools, bringing technology into the classroom, upgrading teacher training, and building partnerships with business and community groups. Connecticut is one of 29 states currently receiving third year Goals 2000 grants.Under Goals 2000, states that have education improvement plans in place automatically receive third, fourth and fifth year funding if appropriations are available.

" Connecticut's third year of Goals 2000 funds will continue to support innovative techniques to raise student achievement, enhance teaching and learning, and advance technology instruction through the Connecticut School Improvement Initiative," said Riley."For example, one project involves a partnership of nine school districts, six universities and two associations working together to improve student performance, while the Somers Public Schools projectinvolves teacher parent teams working jointly on school improvement activities".

The grant announced today is being made from the fiscal year 1996 appropriation of $340 million. In fiscal year 1997, the Congress appropriated $476 million for Goals 2000 state and local grants, a 40 percent increase over 1996. These fourth year Goals 2000 funds will be available July 1, 1997.

Goals 2000 provides resources for local and state education improvements, with flexibility in how states and communities choose to develop and implement their improvement efforts.Riley said the absence of regulations provides states with the latitude to effectively implement their locally designed school improvement initiatives.Schools and local school districts use Goals 2000 funds for a wide range of school improvement activities that reinforce local approaches to helping all students learn the basics and the core subjects.

Connecticut's first and second year Goals 2000 grants totaled $4,487,061.

States receiving third year funding to date under Goals 2000 include Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.

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