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

Special Challenges -- Federal Help

"Moving all children toward high standards" is no small feat for any community or school. For some communities struggling just to keep kids safe, in school, and out of trouble, the challenge is especially great -- unless there is significant assistance.

Many federal programs offer help. But too often, resources under these programs are not aimed at challenging standards. Too often, rules and regulations make it tough to integrate these resources into coherent efforts that make sense for kids.

GOALS 2000 is designed to help you change that. It offers a framework for using all resources -- including federal resources -- as part of your comprehensive, continuous improvement effort.

It also affords your schools and state the opportunity to break free of many rules and regulations that may stand in the way of your comprehensive plan. For the first time, under GOALS 2000, the Secretary of Education has broad authority to waive such federal rules and regulations.

Also for the first time, the Secretary will be able to transfer that waiver authority to six states. Under this Education Flexibility Partnership Demonstration Act, six state departments of education will be able to grant waivers not only from their own rules and regulations, but from federal rules and regulations as well.

GOALS 2000 offers states support for planning how to harness technology to the state GOALS 2000 plan. When your state applies for GOALS 2000 funding, it may apply -- in that same application -- for a technology planning grant. Five million dollars is available in 1994, and more may be available in 1995, for states to help build technology resources for communities and schools to tap into.
Image

[A Partnership With Your State] [Table of Contents] [The Improving America's Schools Act]