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

   US News Wire Please run this on your D.C. Wire.   Lora Lee 202/401-2563       FOR EMBARGOED RELEASE: 12:01 a.m.EDT                       August 15, 1996                                      Contact: Rick Miller                                                                   (202) 401-3026

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley --Regarding 1996 ACT Assessment Results

Every parent, student and guidance counselor should heed the unmistakable message of these ACT scores: students who accept the challenge of taking the core academic courses and hold themselves to higher standards of learning do better and are better prepared for entering and succeeding in college.

The trend is clearly in the right direction. Now, it's time to quicken the pace and engage all students in the challenging classwork that leads to future success for them and for America.

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