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

       FOR RELEASE                       Program Contact: Tom Fagan (202)401-0039     September 26, 1996                                                                             News Media Contact: Melinda Kitchell Malico                                                                                     (202)401-1576

16 New Hampshire Districts Receive Goals 2000 Grants

School districts that participate in Goals 2000 receive funds to help launch and sustain ongoing school improvement efforts to raise student achievement by setting higher standards, involving parents in schools, bringing technology into the classroom, upgrading teacher training, and building partnerships with business and community groups. Communities in 49 states are benefitting from Goals 2000 funding. Only Virginia is not participating.

New Hampshire became eligible for a new participation option that allows school districts, following state approval, to apply directly to the U.S. Department of Education for grants. Amendments to the Goals 2000 Act, passed in October 1995 under the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 1996, allow for the option.

Many of the state's school district applicants cited the unique challenges faced by isolated rural schools. Several plan to use their Goals 2000 grants to improve communications among schools, to increase community and parent involvement, and to make better use of technology -- all aimed at raising student achievement.

For example, in the Derry Cooperative School District, Goals 2000 will fund Project DIRECT (Derry Informational Resource and Educational Community Tie In), focused on improved math and science achievement. The project will link the district's four elementary and two middle schools via a computer network that will offer Internet access and training for parents, teachers, and students.

In Jaffery Ringe Cooperative School District, Goals 2000 support will help assemble three teams consisting of education professionals, a technology consultant, a curriculum consultant and parents, to develop challenging curricula and assessments to meet the goal of raising overall student achievement.

Goals 2000 provides resources for local and state education improvements, with flexibility in how states and communities choose to develop and implement their improvement efforts. Riley said the absence of regulations provides states with the latitude to effectively implement their locally designed school improvement initiatives.

President Clinton has requested $491 million for Goals 2000 for fiscal year 1997. If appropriated, these funds will be available July 1, 1997. The 1997 appropriations bill is expected to be completed shortly.

Eighty New Hampshire school districts applied for the grants. Applications not yet funded will be eligible for future support under Goals 2000. Riley is also announcing awards to districts in Montana and Oklahoma today, states in which local school districts have been given the go ahead to apply.

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