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

DATE: THURSDAY, October 14, 1993                   TAG: 9310140163
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

HOUSE PASSES SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL

The 307-118 approval came after supporters, addressing concerns that the federal government would assume too great a role in local school decisions, stressed that the bill's provisions are voluntary.

Democrats and the House's only independent favored the proposal 249-2. The majority included 57 Republicans, while 116 GOP members opposed it.

The Senate still must act on the measure.

Rep. Thomas Sawyer, D-Ohio, said it "will provide states and local communities with models that they can adopt and, more importantly, adapt to their own educational needs as they define them."

But opponents argued that the legislation would saddle state and local school officials with cumbersome new federal regulations.

Clinton's "Goals 2000: Educate America Act" would establish voluntary national standards. States would submit their proposed standards to a national panel for approval. Existing plans also could be considered. Another national board would identify essential occupational skills and create a voluntary system of setting standards and certification procedures for job- training programs. - Associated Press