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

       FOR RELEASE                                          Contact: David Frank      August 5, 1996                                                (202) 401-1576

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W.Riley Regarding Making Standards Matter

The report shows that progress has been made, but we have a long way to go. Most states are actively at work in developing standards, and it is encouraging that almost every state is grounding standards in the core academic subjects. But, to be useful, standards must clearly describe what students are expected to learn in each subject. While some states are now making standards more specific, this report finds that too many of the standards are still too vague. The challenge now is to reestablish an emphasis on high quality standards.

This administration is committed to helping states and communities with the challenging task of establishing top quality standards. Since 1992, $47 million has gone to fund the development of state curriculum frameworks, content standards and state assessments by 33 states. Additionally, the department has supported studies that compare student achievement, curriculum and teaching practices in 50 countries and the U.S.

Under Goals 2000, communities and states have received $796 million over three years to develop their own standards and assessments, provide professional development for teachers and utilize technology in the classroom to improve student achievement. Regrettably, the U.S. House of Representatives recently voted to cut off support for states and communities through Goals 2000.

This report also raises the important point that if standards are to make a difference, states must consider ways to phase in real consequences for not meeting them. All students can reach challenging standards if given the opportunity, but fewer than half of the states currently link student attainment of standards to promotion or high school graduation. As President Clinton stated at the governors' and business leaders' education summit this March, "I believe the most important thing you can do is to have high expectations for students -- to make them believe they can learn, to tell them they're going to have to learn difficult, challenging things, to assess whether they're learning or not, and to hold them accountable as well as to reward them."

Recent research from the nonprofit Public Agenda Foundation confirms that the public overwhelmingly supports high quality standards. For the good of our children, our society and our future, all of us -- educators, parents, community members, civic and business leaders, and government officials -- must rededicate our commitment to making standards matter.

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