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    October 18, 1995                                   (202) 401-1008

The Goals 2000: Educate America Act, passed by Congress last year with bipartisan support, helps states and communities advance their own school improvement efforts, based on the results of local decision making. Riley said Goals 2000 offers unprecedented flexibility and no regulations have been or will be issued under the school improvement initiative.

Last month Riley authorized Ohio to waive federal education regulations and statutory requirements for the state and its school districts under a new "Ed-Flex" state/federal partnership. The "Ed-Flex" designation, given to just four states to date, allows waiver decisions to be made by the state -- not the federal government -- and gives Ohio the power to waive rules that can limit local and state efforts to improve teaching and learning.

"Year two Goals 2000 support will help Ohio advance their comprehensive plan for school improvement, with a focus on accountability for improved student achievement, increased flexibility for schools, and more parental, businesses and community involvement in the education of Ohio's children," Riley said. "This support will help local school districts improve student learning under locally developed improvement plans, provide career-long training for teachers, and use innovative strategies such as partnerships with other school districts, colleges and universities to help share proven practices."

In spite of the fact that Goals 2000 is supporting school improvement in almost every state, funds for continued school improvement are in jeopardy. President Clinton sought $750 million for Goals 2000 in fiscal year 1996, but the House voted to eliminate all funds for the education improvement initiative as part of $4 billion in cuts to education. The Senate Appropriations Committee put back $310 million for Goals 2000, and the full Senate has not yet acted on its fiscal year 1996 appropriations bill.

Ninety percent of the new funds will go directly from the state to local school districts. The second year of support -- $362 million for state and local grants in fiscal year 1995 -- will help states and communities implement school improvement plans to raise student academic achievement, involve parents in schools, bring technology into the classroom, upgrade teacher professional development, and create partnerships with business and community groups. States that submit a school improvement plan developed with input from parents, educators, community members and the private sector, as well as states that show substantial progress toward that end, are eligible for second- year funding. To date, 30 states are receiving a second year of funding.

"Goals 2000 makes a vital contribution to school improvement," Riley continued. "We must not abandon the children, teachers, schools and communities that have worked so hard to make schools better.

"Improving teaching and learning is critical to the nation's future. It is essential that we continue to assist states and communities as they develop and adopt challenging academic standards that will guide the education of students into the next century."

Ohio's first-year Goals 2000 grant totaled $3,715,308. Forty-eight states and nine territories received almost $85 million in first-year Goals 2000 support.