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

From the Assistant Secretary

These are exciting times of opportunities and challenges in American education. Many educators and citizens are already working together to ensure that we expect the most from all our students and, at the same time, develop educational programs that will provide each student with an equal opportunity to achieve that excellence. Few of us doubt, however, that we still have a long way to go.

We must realize our vision of a nation where all students have access to an educational system that nurtures rigor, respect, cooperation, and success. This system must also guide and support every member of an increasingly diverse population in gaining the knowledge, skills, compassion, and sense of responsibility needed to be productive and fulfilled adult citizens.

Clearly, this will not be an easy task. Further, in the face of the violence, drug use, economic hardships, and racial and cultural intolerance that confront our society, higher standards for student achievement may pale in urgency. But we must remember that education is the key to opening our minds to the discovery of better ways to address the ills that divide us and sap our strength as a nation.

We are making progress. A broad range of education constituents are setting higher standards for what students need to know and be able to do to prosper in today's and tomorrow's world. We're improving the curriculum and developing more authentic assessments to match those standards. We're exploring ways that teachers and other educators will be able to upgrade their talents and their expectations for themselves and their students. And we're recognizing that to make any of this happen, we must have safe, challenging learning environments that motivate and reward students and teachers for achieving excellence.

In subsequent issues, we'll take a closer look at what's succeeding and what still needs to be done. OERI is committed to getting the lessons learned from research and the wisdom of practice into the hands of those who must have good information to make crucial decisions about the future of our young people.

It will take the best thinking and total commitment of educators, parents, communities, businesses, and others to pool resources, integrate services, and make our schools models for society. We must accept no less.

Sharon P. Robinson
Former Assistant Secretary

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