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

   FOR RELEASE                              Contact:  Kathryn Kahler    July 27, 1995                                      (202) 401-3026

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley regarding report by the American Federation of Teachers

Making Standards Matter illustrates the progress states have made in using academic standards to improve teaching and learning. The report also makes crystal clear that Goals 2000 funds, slashed by the House Appropriations Committee, must be restored to give states the extra help they need to improve our schools.

In the year since Goals 2000 was enacted -- with wide bipartisan support -- many states have made progress toward setting their own academic standards. But there is much more to be done and states need Goals 2000 support to move forward. While states are obviously committed to school improvement based on challenging, locally developed standards, most states say they need help.

Goals 2000 provides states and communities with support for developing challenging academic standards, tools to measure student progress toward them and help for states to improve teaching. Goals 2000 gives states support to develop rigorous standards that are on par with those of our international competitors. Only world class standards will earn the support of the public.

This is not the time to retreat from our commitment to work with states as a partner in the urgent work of helping schools and communities provide a quality education for children.