
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, November 9, 1995                   TAG: 9511090073
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOL GOALS STILL DISTANT

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 succeed only 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.

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.

Supporters of the national goals say changes begun in the 1990s, including some states' requirements that students pass exit exams before graduation, have not filtered down.

Education Secretary Riley and others in the Clinton administration also argue that the math and science improvements prove schools are slowly turning around.

The national goals stem from a governor's meeting called by President Bush in 1989 in Charlottesville, Va., amid worries that American schoolchildren were trailing their Japanese and European counterparts academically.

Support for the effort has since splintered. Business groups and some Republicans still back the National Education Goals panel of governors, congressmen and state lawmakers, and its efforts to encourage tough state academic standards.

But many conservatives 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.

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 in eight core areas.

All teachers will have access to programs for the continued improvement of their professional skills.

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.

Every school will be free of drugs, violence and the unauthorized presence of guns and alcohol.

by CNB