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

     FOR RELEASE                     Contact:  Melinda Kitchell Malico      May 22, 1996                              (202) 401-1008

Goals 2000, passed by Congress in 1994 with bipartisan support, helps states and communities improve schools, based on the results of local decision making. States that participate in Goals 2000 receive seed money to help launch and sustain ongoing school improvement efforts to raise standards and student academic achievement, involve parents in schools, bring technology into the classroom, upgrade teacher professional development, and create partnerships with business and community groups.

Riley said Goals 2000 offers unprecedented flexibility since no regulations have been or will be issued under the school improvement initiative.

"Under Goals 2000, first-year grants went to 15 school districts across the state for school improvement planning, setting of challenging local academic standards in line with state standards, and career long teacher professional development," said Riley. "In Omaha, for instance, almost $25,000 in Goals 2000 support is already at work to improve student achievement in science and communications.

South High School is leading the effort to provide more opportunities for parents, community groups, and school staff to work together on new classroom teaching and learning strategies that raise student achievement."

To be eligible for second-year funding, states develop or indicate progress is being made on a school improvement plan including broad-based input from parents, educators, community members and the private sector. States and local school districts can use Goals 2000 funds for a wide range of activities that reinforce their own approaches to helping students reach higher academic standards. Ninety percent of second-year funds go directly from states to local school districts.

"Goals 2000 makes a vital contribution to school improvement," Riley continued. "Communities, schools, teachers and students across the country are using Goals 2000 support effectively to make schools better.

"Improving student achievement is critical to the nation's future. We take seriously our role of assisting states and communities as they develop and adopt challenging academic standards that will guide the education of students into the next century."

Forty-eight states and nine territories received almost $85 million in first-year Goals 2000 support. In the second year, 40 states have applied and received a share of $362 million in (fiscal year 1995) support.

Congress recently appropriated $340 million for continued support in FY96, and President Clinton has requested $476 million for Goals 2000 state grant support in FY97. The program, however, could still be in jeopardy. The House Budget Plan for FY97 proposes to eliminate Goals 2000, although the Senate has not specifically addressed Goals 2000 funding. Nebraska's first- year Goals 2000 grant totaled $370,124.