Earlier this month, Roger B. Porter, President Bush’s domestic-policy adviser; Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas; and several White House and gubernatorial staff members met as part of the preparations for the scheduled announcement next month of national education goals.
After the Jan. 8 session, Mr. Porter, representing the White House, and Mr. Clinton, representing the National Governors’ Association, prepared documents to reflect their understanding of the discussions at that meeting.
Following are excerpts from those two documents.
The White House
School Readiness
- By the year 2000, every child in America will start school ready to learn.
High-School Completion/Dropouts
- By the year 2000, we will increase the percentage of students graduating from high school to at least 90 percent.
Student Achievement
- By the year 2000, American students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having demonstrated competency over a challenging curriculum that will enable them to be responsible citizens and compete in the 21st century.
Science and Mathematics
- By the year 2000, U.S. students will be first in the world in science and mathematics achievement.
Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning
- By the year 2000, every adult American will be literate and possess the skills necessary to succeed and adapt in a competitive global economy.
Safe, Disciplined, and Drug-Free Schools
- By the year 2000, every school in America will be free of drugs and violence and offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning.
National Governors’ Association
The Preschool Years: Getting ready to learn.
- By the year 2000, all children in America will start school ready to learn.
The School Years: Developing young adults who will have the knowledge and skills to participate in both the global economy and our democratic institutions.
- By the year 2000, we will increase the high-school graduation rate to 90 percent.
- By the year 2000, we will ensure that the academic performance of all students increases significantly, particularly in English, mathematics, science, history, geography, and foreign languages.
- By the year 2000, U.S. students will rank first among industrialized nations in mathematics and science knowledge, based on reliable international comparisons.
- By the year 2000, all students will be involved in activities that teach, promote, and demonstrate good citizenship, community service, and personal responsibility.
- By the year 2000, we will eliminate the achievement gap among sexes, races, and ethnic groups while increasing the achievement of all students, at all grade levels.
The After-School Years: Building a nation of learners who will succeed in the global economy and guarantee America’s continued world leadership into the 21st century.
- By the year 2000, all working Americans will be functionally literate, able to read, write, compute, and solve problems well enough to adapt to constantly emerging new technologies, new work methods, and new markets.
- By the year 2000, we will increase the college-going rate from 55 percent to 65 percent, substantially increase the number who stay for at least two years, and increase the percentage of students who complete college by 40 percent.
- By the year 2000, we will reduce the racial, ethnic, and income differences in college-going and completion rates by providing access for all qualified individuals.
- By the year 2000, we will have enough citizens with advanced educations to preserve America’s world leadership.
