THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 4, 1994 TAG: 9410040005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Virginia, one of the last states in the nation to buy into Goals 2000 - the federal blueprint to overhaul America's school systems - is understandably suspicious of any promise that the millions of dollars it would gain could come without troublesome strings.
The cautious approach of the state Board of Education, state superintendent of public instruction and Gov. George Allen stems from knowledge that federal money is tied to federal regulations.
But with assurance from a senior advisor to U.S. Education Secretary Richard Riley that there will be no new federal rules and no dictates as to how Goals 2000 money is spent, at least five of nine members of the Board of Education appear convinced that Virginia should take the money - $14.1 million over two years, with more promised later - and get about the business of reform.
Still, the board will hear next from Goals 2000 critics - as it certainly should - and the conservative governor could veto a board vote to take the money if he believed it would intensify federal intrusion into matters better handled by states and localities.
Of course, the federal money - that is, taxpayer money funneled through Washington - won't be disbursed with no questions asked. That would be as unappealing to government critics as the perceived threat of school systems being run by the feds. States must get approval for plans devised to meet the goals.
Virginia is fortunate that goals of the Governor's Commission on Champion Schools overlap some of the eight national goals, including tougher academic standards and more parental involvement.
The national education goals are just that: goals, not mandates. It's no secret that some of the nation's public schools need to sharpen their focus and set higher standards and implement changes to pursue essential goals. The feds are willing to waive some existing regulations to give schools more flexibility to try non-traditional approaches to boost student achievement.
Goals 2000 aims high, calling for all children to enter school ready to learn; 90 percent of students to graduate from high school; all adults to be literate; U.S. students to be first in the world in math and science; all schools to maintain a disciplined environment free of drugs and violence; teachers to be trained continuously; parental involvement to increase.
Goals are one thing. How to pursue them is another. Settling on destinations is one thing. Leaving to states and localities the job of figuring how to move toward them is another. The feds say embracing Goals 2000 and sharing in the $647 million outlay will provide for both educational experimentation and financing.
William C. Bosher Jr., state superintendent of public instruction, rightly calls Virginia's reluctance to endorse Goals 2000 ``an issue of trust.'' But if the fine print in the money-for-goals endorsement supports U.S. Education Secretary Riley's assurance, Virginia should seal the bargain.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION VIRGINIA SCHOOLS by CNB