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

A biweekly look at progress on the Secretary's priorities

Table of Contents High Standards for All Students Title I Schools Recognized IDEA Passes Both Houses Maryland... to Join Family Partnership America Reads Challenge Technology Literacy Challenge Fund Online Library Credits

HIGH STANDARDS FOR ALL STUDENTS On May 22, President Clinton is participating in a town hall meeting at Robert C. Byrd High School in Clarksburg, West Virginia, to talk with citizens, parents, educators & students about how schools & communities can work together to help students reach high standards. The discussion will be broadcast live over the Internet (audio as well as video & audio) beginning some time between 12:45 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Eastern time. For information, plus links to recent Presidential education efforts & the Department's 7 priorities, please visit: http://www.cotf.edu/townhall/

TITLE I SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED This month Secretary Riley recognized 100 elementary & secondary schools for operating outstanding Title I programs (see note below). These schools were cited for: providing opportunities for all children to improve performance in the core academics strong teacher training & professional development coordination with other programs improvements in curricula & instruction to support teaching & learning linked to high standards developing partnerships among schools, parents & communities 3 years of successful achievement data. One of the 100 schools, Lost Creek School (West Virginia), was cited for its exemplary "schoolwide program" (see note below). It uses Title I to help all its students move toward high standards in reading, writing & math. An intensive, one-on-one tutoring program for primary-grade children who have fallen behind in reading -- Reading Recovery -- is supported by Title I, as are thematic units, literature circles, computer-based story writing, math lab & math strategies. Parents are invited to school for day & evening events such as Bingo for Books & the Teddy Bear Writing Workshop. Under the "Family Connections" program, young children learn according to a nationally recognized preschool curriculum while their parents study computers, writing, life skills & prepare for the GED & job internships. The school also sends new parents "newborn packets" of information on newborns, toys for infants & more. NOTE: Title I (formerly "Chapter 1") is the largest federal program for elementary & secondary education, providing about $7 billion annually to more than half the schools in the U.S. to support instruction for more than 6 million at-risk students. Schools receiving Title I funds may create a "schoolwide program" if 50% (or more) of students in the school are from low-income homes. The idea is that a schoolwide program can help a school use all its resources to assist all students in reaching high academic standards. For more information on schoolwide programs or Title I, please see: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/ESEA/index.html

IDEA PASSES BOTH HOUSES Last week the Senate & the House passed by overwhelming margins (98 to 1 in the Senate & 420 to 3 in the House) amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the 22-year-old law guaranteeing 5.8 million youngsters with disabilities a "free, appropriate" public education. Secretary Riley praised Congress for finding common ground, noting that he was "pleased by the strong focus on teaching & learning [in the legislation], and the balanced effort to protect the safety of all children, while maintaining the essential rights & protections for children with disabilities. I believe the new emphasis on mediation will give parents of disabled children & school authorities a new, constructive & positive way to resolve conflicts." The Secretary called it "a great day for American education & a great day for the millions of children -- disabled & non-disabled -- who will now have greater opportunities to learn to their full potential," noting that the agreement "has the full support of the Administration, and I expect the President to sign the legislation into law in the immediate future."

MARYLAND FIRST STATE TO JOIN FAMILY PARTNERSHIP More than 700 students, teachers, parents & citizens joined Secretary Riley, Governor Glendening & Superintendent Nancy Grasmick at Eastern Technical High School (Baltimore County) on May 5, when Maryland became the first state to sign on to the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education. AT&T and the Family Education Network announced plans to launch a statewide web site offering parents, students & educators information about their local schools' programs & activities. Also announced was that Maryland-based federal agencies will donate more than 16,000 recycled computers to help students & parents in high poverty areas, and a toll- free 800 number will be available where citizens can get information on Maryland's school improvement efforts.

AMERICA READS CHALLENGE Nearly 200 colleges & universities have joined the call to enlist 100,000 Federal Work Study (FWS) students to help children read as part of the America Reads Challenge, a national effort to ensure that every child can read well & independently by the end of 3rd grade. Colleges have been asked to help by voluntarily dedicating half of this year's FWS funding increase to students who want to serve as reading tutors. Authorized by the Higher Education Act of 1965, FWS helps postsecondary institutions provide on & off campus part-time employment so that students can meet education costs. Generally, the federal government provides a 75% share of FWS funding, with institutions & participating employers contributing a 25% match. To encourage participation in the reading initiative, the Department has waived the matching fund requirement for students serving as reading tutors for children in pre-kindergarten through elementary school. For more information, please see: http://www.ed.gov/inits/americareads/ (scroll to Federal Work-Study Information") http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/05-1997/ntltutor.html Also this month, Secretary Riley met with more than 30 religious leaders to discuss the America Reads Challenge & the role of religious organizations in helping to reach the goal of ensuring that every child learns to read well & independently by the end of 3rd grade. The Secretary also challenged religious leaders across the nation to pledge 250,000 volunteers from local communities of faith to help children learn to read. So far, 37 religious organizations have indicated interest in supporting the America Reads Challenge.

TECHNOLOGY LITERACY CHALLENGE FUND This month Secretary Riley announced 6 Technology Literacy Challenge Fund (TLCF) awards, bringing to 29 the number of states that have received grants under this program. NEW JERSEY's $3.9 million award will support two TLCF grant competitions aimed at making technology more available for helping New Jersey students meet the state's Core Curriculum Content Standards. One competition will target funds to districts that are economically disadvantaged & that have significant technology needs; the second will fund consortia of districts to deliver county-based technology services. NORTH DAKOTA's $1 million award will support at least 20 projects serving high poverty school districts, with special consideration given to proposals addressing adult & family education & proposals with potential to be replicated throughout the state. Other states that have received TLCF awards this month include Arkansas, Colorado, Oregon & South Carolina.

ONLINE LIBRARY Recent additions to our Online Library include... Excellence & Accountability in Teaching: A Guide to U.S. Department of Education Programs & Resources (April 1997) describes resources that states & communities can use to support high-quality teacher preparation & career-long professional development, as well as other challenges related to the President's goal of making sure every classroom in America has a talented, dedicated, well-prepared teacher. http://www.ed.gov/pubs/ExcellAcctTeach/ The "READY*SET*READ Early Childhood Learning Kit" was developed by the Department of Health & Human Services, the Corporation for National Service, and the Department of Education to advance President Clinton's America Reads Challenge, which aims to help every child in America read well & independently by the end of the 3rd grade. http://www.ed.gov/inits/americareads/RSRkit.html

Have a comment or suggestion on ED Initiatives? Please send it to Kirk Winters in the Office of the Under Secretary at kirk.winters@ed.gov.

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