PRESIDENT CLINTON CALLS ON CONGRESS TO ACT ON AMERICA?S EDUCATION
PRIORITIES AND RELEASES NEW CLASS SIZE REDUCTION REPORT
October 5, 2000
Today, President Clinton will meet with Congressional Democrats to discuss
the progress of the budget negotiations on America?s education priorities,
and release a new class-size report by the Council of Great City Schools.
The report demonstrates that the effective use of federal class size
reduction funds to hire highly qualified teachers in the early grades helps
improve student achievement in urban areas, and highlights the urgent need
for Congress to ensure our children receive the first-class education they
deserve. President Clinton will urge Congress to make critical education
investments to help communities modernize crumbling schools, hire 100,000
high-quality teachers to lower class sizes, increase after-school
opportunities, and expand college opportunity for all Americans. He will
also call on Congress to demand more from our schools by helping districts
turn around failing schools and enact his $1 billion Teacher Quality
proposal to improve teacher recruitment, professional development, and
increase the number of certified teachers in America?s classrooms.
RAISING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT BY REDUCING CLASS SIZES. Last year, Congress
made a down payment of $1.3 billion toward President Clinton?s goal of
hiring 100,000 new teachers to bring class size down to a national average
of 18 in the early grades. Overall, the federal initiative is helping 1.7
million young children benefit from smaller, more personalized classes.
The report by the Council of Great City Schools provides further proof that
the Clinton-Gore Administration?s investments to reduce class sizes are
making a difference. This report shows that 32 of our nation?s largest
urban school districts received almost $243 million in federal class size
funds for the 2000-2001 school year, and approximately 4,069 new first,
second, and third-grade teachers were hired to teach in these schools.
More than three-quarters of this funding was devoted to hiring new teachers
in grades one, two, and three, with the remainder used to improve teacher
recruitment and professional development. Through an analysis of the
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the report also notes
that reducing class sizes from 24 to 18 can improve student NAEP scores in
urban areas by more than 5 points.
INVESTING IN AMERICA?S PRIORITIES AND DEMANDING RESULTS IS WORKING.
Indicators show that the Clinton-Gore plan to invest in proven education
strategies and insist on accountability for results is helping more
students reach high standards. Under this Administration, the federal
investment in education and training programs has more than doubled and
student achievement is improving. For example:
? Since 1992, reading and math scores on the National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP) have increased for fourth, eighth, and twelfth
graders, including students in the highest poverty schools.
? The achievement gap between low-income and minority students and their
peers is on the decline.
? Math SAT scores are at a thirty-year high. The average SAT math score
has gone from 501 in 1992 to 514 in 2000, and the average verbal score has
gone from 500 to 505.
? More students are taking a rigorous high school curriculum and
pursuing a higher education than a decade ago.
CALLING ON CONGRESS TO INVEST IN AMERICA?S EDUCATION PRIORITIES. The
President will reiterate the urgent need for the Republican Leadership to
act immediately to pass a budget that meets the education needs of our
students. The Clinton-Gore Administration sent Congress a balanced and
fiscally responsible budget in February that makes investments in key
education initiatives, including: continuing our commitment to hire 100,000
quality teachers to reduce class sizes, repairing our crumbling schools,
increasing the number of certified teachers in America?s classrooms,
strengthening accountability for turning around failing schools, expanding
after-school opportunities, and preparing 1.3 million at-risk children for
college through GEAR UP. The Republican leadership has proposed an
education budget that shortchanges America?s students by failing to provide
adequate funds to ensure that states and local communities have the
resources they need to provide our students with the high quality education
they deserve. Republicans in Congress still have not sent the President an
education budget, and today the President will again call on the Republican
Leadership to send him an education budget that invests more and demands
more from our schools.
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