THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 24, 1995 TAG: 9506240386
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAVID M. POOLE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Gov. George F. Allen is shortchanging Virginia's schoolchildren by refusing to accept $8 million in education funds under a federal Goals 2000 program, Lt. Gov. Donald Beyer Jr. said Friday.
``It is dead wrong to be dead last to accept needed funding to address local education needs,'' Beyer told reporters at a news conference.
Virginia and New Hampshire are the only two states that have refused to participate in Goals 2000, which provides for broad, voluntary goals aimed at making schools in the United States among the best in the world.
Allen reiterated his belief that federal bureaucrats could force Virginia to meet their demands if the state opted into Goals 2000. The program would provide Virginia about $1.7 million this year and $6 million in the second year.
``Once the federal government starts giving you money, they start calling the tune,'' Allen told listeners on his monthly radio call-in show.
Later, the Republican chief executive told reporters it was more important to protect states' rights than to accept money that would amount to a tiny fraction of the state's overall education budget.
``I'm not going to sell Virginia's principles or Virginia's schoolchildren to the federal government for a penny a student per day,'' he said.
A few hours later, Beyer shot back that Allen is so intent on beating the states' rights drum that he would walk away from federal money that could put thousands of computers in classrooms around the state.
``Refusing Goals 2000 puts Virginia at a competitive disadvantage,'' the Democrat said. ``Other states will get the money - the same states we compete against for the best-paying jobs.''
Goals 2000, which was signed into law by former President George Bush, sets broad goals such as improving math and science instruction, reducing dropouts and providing safe schools.
Beyer said that the Goals 2000 guidelines are voluntary and that the law gives flexibility to state and local school boards to use funds as they see fit.
Beyer accused Allen of taking Washington-bashing rhetoric - long favored by Virginia governors - to unprecedented extremes.
``I think he has gone too far,'' Beyer said. ``I think states' rights is the wrong battle to fight right now.''
KEYWORDS: FEDERAL GRANT by CNB