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     September 4, 1996                               (202) 401-1576

Louisiana Receives 3rd Year GOALS 2000 Funds

States 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.

Louisiana is one of 22 states currently receiving third year Goals 2000 grants. Under Goals 2000, states that have education improvement plans in place are eligible for third, fourth and fifth year funding if appropriations are available.

"Louisiana is making good use of Goals 2000 support to help its schools and districts achieve the goals of the state's LEARN for the 21st Century Comprehensive School Improvement Plan," said Riley. Academic "School districts receiving Goals 2000 sub grants are capitalizing on exciting new technologies to help students and teachers learn on line; working with colleges and communities to help expand the skills and knowledge of new and experienced teachers; and training teachers to serve as models, mentors and instructors for other teachers to improve math and science teaching. These efforts show that Louisiana is on the right track to improved academic achievement."

The grant announced today is being made from the fiscal year 1996 appropriations. President Clinton has requested $476 million for Goals 2000 for FY 97, which would provide approximately $10,577,254 for Louisiana. If appropriated, these funds would be available July 1, 1997. For 1997, the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to cut the president's education budget request by $2.8 billion and eliminate all fourth year funding for Goals 2000.

Riley said failing to provide funds would seriously undermine community and state efforts to implement improvements aimed at ensuring that students learn to high standards. "At a time when this initiative is supporting better education in more communities than ever before, the House has tragically walked away from this critically important effort to raise student achievement in the core academic subjects," Riley said.

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. Schools and local school districts use Goals 2000 funds for a wide range of activities that reinforce their own approaches to helping all students learn the basics and the core subjects.

"Schools all over the country are benefitting from having more control in using federal funds to make their schools better," Riley said.

Louisiana's first year and second year Goals 2000 grants totaled $10,032,153.

States receiving third year funding to date under Goals 2000 are: Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.

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