Modest Results On School Goals Bipartisan Education Panel Reports At 5-Year Mark Of Plan
Five years after the nation’s governors set ambitious goals to make American education world class, schools have made modest progress at best, a panel of governors and other state lawmakers said Wednesday.
The plan, now embroiled in political fights, can only succeed if parents and schools renew their efforts to toughen academic standards, the panel said.
“These are tough goals, and there has been progress,” said Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh, who chairs the bipartisan National Education Goals panel. “But there’s a long way to go.”
High school completion rates have not improved since 1990, according to a study the panel issued Wednesday. Reading achievement has remained flat in grades 4 and 8 and has fallen among high school seniors.
And a large gap still exists between white and minority students’ rates of college enrollment and completion.
In addition, more teachers report being threatened or injured by students now than in 1990, and more say classroom disruptions are interfering with teaching and learning.
On the bright side, both elementary and high school students’ achievement in math and science has improved, and more college students are earning degrees in those disciplines.
“If this was a person who was running a fever, I’d say the fever has gone from 105 to 104. The person’s still pretty ill,” said Chester Finn of the conservative Hudson Institute.
Education Secretary Riley and others in the Clinton administration argue that the math and science improvements prove schools are slowly turning around.
“If we do the same job with other areas that we have done with math and science, the level overall will rise,” Riley said.
The national goals stem from a governors’ meeting called by President Bush in 1989 in Charlottesville, Va., amid worries that American schoolchildren were academically trailing their Japanese and European counterparts.
When he became president, Clinton pushed to set the goals into law. And his administration also implemented a federal program, called Goals 2000, that gives states money to help them overhaul schools.
But Goals 2000 drew suspicion from conservative groups. Support for the effort has since splintered.
Business groups and some Republicans still back the National Education Goals panel.”This kind of work serves the states in a tangible way,” said Michigan Gov. John Engler, the panel’s incoming chairman. But many conserva tives say such an effort can never be free of federal influence.
“Education is a national priority, but that does not mean we need more federal programs,” Finn said. “They took a national crusade and turned it into a federal program.”
xxxx Education goals The national education goals say that by the year 2000: All children in America will start school ready to learn. The high school graduation rate will increase to at least 90 percent. All students will leave grades 4, 8 and 12 having demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter in English, math, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, art, history and geography, and every school will ensure students learn to use their minds well so they’re prepared for responsible citizenship, further learning and productive employment. All teachers will have access to programs for the continued improvement of their professional skills, and the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills to prepare students for the next century. U.S. students will be first in the world in mathematics and science achievement. Every adult American will be literate and possess the knowledge and skills to compete in a global economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Every school will be free of drugs, violence and the unauthorized presence of guns and alcohol, and will offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning. Every school will promote partnerships to increase parental involvement and participation. Associated Press