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

FOR RELEASE
January 5, 2000

Contact:
Erica Lepping
(202) 401-3026

DURHAM, N.C., AREA SCHOOL TO BE SITE OF RILEY'S ANNUAL STATE OF AMERICAN EDUCATION ADDRESS

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U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley today announced that he will deliver his 7th annual State of American Education Address at Southern High School, Durham, N.C., on Feb. 22, at noon EST. "North Carolina, under Gov. Jim Hunt, has become a national leader in improving education," Riley said. "Gov. Hunt has worked tirelessly to improve teacher quality, raise standards, expand early childhood education, give children the learning power of technology, and support improvements in public education. When a governor like Jim Hunt makes education a top priority, it makes all the difference to our children -- and our nation."

In this 7th annual address on the state of American education, Riley will discuss the progress that has been made in education since his first address in 1994 and will challenge schools and communities to renew their commitment to ensure that all students achieve to their fullest potential in the 21st century. In the past, Riley has used his annual address to announce major policy initiatives on reading, improving teacher quality and reforming failing schools.

"It is critical for low-performing schools to do what it takes to turn around," Riley said, "I am proud to be delivering this address from Southern High, a public school whose serious steps have led to a major turn around in student achievement."

Southern High School was recognized by North Carolina for making exemplary growth in just one year after being on the state's list of low-performing schools. School leaders have worked to strengthen teacher development, reduce class sizes, make classrooms disciplined, provide rigorous courses and improve the learning environment. This year, the proportion of students scoring at or above average on end-of-semester tests increased by more than 50 percent.

In previous years, Riley has delivered his annual report on education at: California State University, Long Beach; Nathan Eckstein Middle School, Seattle; the Carter Center in Atlanta, with former President Jimmy Carter; Maplewood-Richmond Heights Senior High School, St. Louis; Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Arlington, VA; and Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. Hundreds of additional locations have downlinked the address live via satellite.

The Feb. 22 speech will be broadcast live via satellite to schools, communities, and cable access television stations across the country from the Southern High School gymnasium. The Secretary's remarks will also be available on the Internet through the U.S. Department of Education's website at www.ed.gov/. Those interested in more information or acquiring satellite coordinates to host a free downlink site should call 1-800-USA-LEARN or visit www.ed.gov/registerevent.

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