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 9, 1996                                   (202) 401-1576

North Carolina 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.

North Carolina is one of 25 states currently receiving third-year Goals 2000 grants. Under Goals 2000, states that have education improvement plans in place automatically receive third, fourth and fifth year funding if appropriations are available.

"More than 60 North Carolina school districts are using Goals 2000 support to advance locally developed school improvement plans that focus on raising academic achievement," said Riley. "I'm encouraged by the varied efforts launched by communities and schools under Goals 2000. In Henderson County, a partnership between schools, communities and families is helping high school students to stay in school until they graduate. At Eastern Elementary School near Washington, a new early intervention center will work with disadvantaged preschoolers to develop critical pre-reading skills. And Northampton County is training a group of teachers to be master science teachers so they may share the skills and knowledge they have developed about the way science is taught and learned. These are encouraging examples of local initiative being translated into promising school improvement efforts."

The grant announced today is being made from the fiscal year 1996 appropriations. President Clinton requested $476 million for Goals 2000 state and local grants in fiscal year 1997, a 40 percent increase over 1996. Congress appropriated that amount to fund fourth year Goals 2000 funds, which will be available July 1, 1997.

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 school improvement activities that reinforce local approaches to helping all students learn the basics and the core subjects.

North Carolina's first and second year Goals 2000 grants totaled $9,805,203.

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

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