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 15, 1996                                       (202) 401-1008

Wyoming Receives 2nd Year Goals 2000 Funds; Riley Says Education Improvement "Critical to Nation's Future"

Wyoming is receiving $1,262,907 to improve teaching and learning, U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley announced today. The support comes under the Goals 2000: Educate America Act.

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.

"Nineteen Wyoming local school districts and communities are already using Goals 2000 support to help students learn -- with the help of new technologies -- to higher standards," said Riley. "One strong example is that of Laramie County School District -- working with other districts and Laramie Community College -- to develop a shared technology plan. Their efforts can help motivate teachers and students to learn via technology, offer individualized instruction for different learning styles and provide better school governance and management. All of these efforts contribute significantly to school improvement."

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. Wyoming's first year Goals 2000 grant totaled $370,124.