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

         FOR RELEASE                               Contact: Melinda Kitchell Malico      August 22, 1996                                    (202) 401-1576

South Dakota Receives 2nd Year GOALS 2000 Funds; Riley Says Education Improvement "Critical to Nation's Future"

Goals 2000, passed by Congress in 1994 with bipartisan support, helps states and communities improve schools, based on the results of local decision making. States that participate in Goals 2000 receive seed money to help launch and sustain ongoing school improvement efforts to raise standards and student academic achievement, involve parents in schools, bring technology into the classroom, upgrade teacher professional development, and create partnerships with business and community groups.

Riley said Goals 2000 offers unprecedented flexibility since no regulations have been or will be issued under the school improvement initiative.

"South Dakota will make good use of second year Goals 2000 support by utilizing educational technology to improve student achievement, raise academic standards, and give teachers new access to state of the art ways to upgrade their skills and knowledge," said Riley. "Goals 2000 support, coupled with a statewide technology plan, means that students in schools across the state will benefit from the many new ways technology helps us learn."

To be eligible for second year funding, states develop or indicate progress is being made on a school improvement plan including broad based input from parents, educators, community members and the private sector. States and local school districts can use Goals 2000 funds for a wide range of activities that reinforce their own approaches to helping students reach higher academic standards. Ninety percent of second-year funds go directly from states to local school districts.

"Goals 2000 makes a vital contribution to school improvement," Riley continued. "Communities, schools, teachers and students across the country are using Goals 2000 support effectively to make schools better.

"Improving student achievement is critical to the nation's future. We take seriously our role of assisting states and communities as they develop and adopt challenging academic standards that will guide the education of students into the next century."

Forty-eight states and nine territories received almost $85 million in first year Goals 2000 support. In the second year, 46 states have applied and received a share of $362 million in (fiscal year 1995) support. In addition, local districts in Montana, New Hampshire and Oklahoma will be receiving their state's share of the funds directly from the U.S. Department of Education.

Congress appropriated $340 million for continued support in FY96, and President Clinton has requested $476 million for Goals 2000 state grant support in FY97. The program, however, could still be in jeopardy. The House Budget Plan for FY97 proposes to eliminate Goals 2000, although the Senate has made no such proposal.

South Dakota's first year Goals 2000 grant totaled $426,975 and they are eligible to receive $1,309,917 in third-year support (FY96) for the coming school year.

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