Claims that rigorous standards in schools will help children in navigating in the changing economy. Explains that Goals 2000 legislation, passed in 1994, can energize and expand local efforts to strengthen schools and reach high standards. Claims that teachers are the heart of educational improvement, while parents and business partners can…

The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education provides his viewpoints on maintaining strong public support for public education by reaching out to every part of the community. The Secretary urges Congress to act on school modernization. He discusses the emerging focus of architecture that now creates schools as community learning centers and…

The U.S. Secretary of Education urges Americans to get involved in education through the America Goes Back to School program, which encourages community members to share their time, talents, and experiences to strengthen their local schools. A program activity kit offers tips on involving community members and addressing key issues in education…

Richard W. Riley, Secretary of Education, provides his remarks concerning today's big-city schools and the new hopeful realism that is being created through building more community partnerships that want to turn low-performing schools around. The Secretary discusses the government's role in school construction and the need to increase after-school…

Examines how citizens' concern for education can be used to encourage family and community involvement in improving learning. Highlights "America Goes Back to School" program as an opportunity for parent and community involvement in schools. Gives examples of school-family-community partnerships. Lists seven challenges to American…

Explains President Clinton's "America Reads Challenge," a promising initiative that brings together volunteer literacy and reading tutors from the community, working to supplement and support the primary work of classroom teachers. At the heart of the new initiative is the understanding that a good start to a strong education requires…

Public education in the United States faces many challenges. Ways in which districts are meeting these challenges are discussed in this State of American Education speech given by U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley. After providing an overview of American education, with mention of reading scores, drug use, the Hispanic dropout rate,…

In this address, Richard W. Riley contends that parents' most important activity is to raise their children. Parents, educators and policymakers can work together to create a healthy and nurturing environment for all children in America. Young children absorb and later imitate adult activities they see, and they observe their parents more than…

Argues that school boards must focus on improving academic achievement within the context of budget cuts, the No Child Left Behind Act, and the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision that educational vouchers are constitutional. Recommends affirmative school-board action such as developing school-community partnerships. (PKP)

Discusses the Clinton Administration's proposed overhaul of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), designed to assist the nation's poor and disadvantaged students. The new ESEA should set high standards for all children; focus on teaching and learning; stimulate local initiatives; reconnect schools, parents, and communities; and target…

Business, community, and religious leaders are being urged to join families in providing greater support and participation in solving pressing problems in American education. Ways businesses can become more family friendly include offering flextime or job sharing to allow parents more flexibility with their children and building school-business…

Maintains that middle school is a crucial time to select challenging courses to maximize the high school experience and to open the widest range of choices for college and careers. Advocates college preparatory mathematics and science courses and describes a tool kit to help schools improve mathematics achievement. Suggests raising community and…

The trend of rising enrollments represents new educational challenges. President Clinton's literacy initiative, America's Reading Challenge, aims to ensure that every child can read independently and well by the end of third grade. This challenge supports grassroots literacy efforts and programs such as Head Start, AmeriCorps, enhanced community…

The main theme of Richard W. Riley's speech is the importance of quality education to America's Latino community. The speech outlines a series of challenges for the 21st century: the promise of language and the need for Latinos to learn English with the aid of bilingual education; the need to meet increasing demand for quality teachers, especially…