DOCUMENT RESUME ED 405 845 IR 018 292 TITLE Community Update: Goals 2000. 1996-97. INSTITUTION Department of Education, Washington, DC. PUB DATE 97 NOTE 73p.; For the 1995-96 issues (n23-33), see ED 393 405. PUB TYPE Collected Works Serials (022) JOURNAL CIT Community Update; n34-45 1996-97 EDRS PRICE MF01/PC03 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Community Development; Educational Finance; *Educational Improvement; *Educational Objectives; Elementary Secondary Education; *Family Involvement; Futures (of Society); Learning Activities; *Meetings; National Programs; Newsletters; Partnerships in Education IDENTIFIERS *Goals 2000; National Education Goals 1990 ABSTRACT This document consists of the 11 issues of the newsletter, "Community Update," which were published between April 1996 and March 1997. The newsletter provides information to help schools and communities reach the National Education Goals. Each issue contains announcements of monthly satellite town meetings, topics to be discussed in upcoming town meetings, developments and issues related to Goals 2000, and news of state and local planning for Goals 2000. Also included in this series of issues are updates on Family Involvement Partnership for Learning, reports of other types of partnerships in education, and discussion on budgets and educational standards. (AEF) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** Comm_ U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this p document do not necessarily represent official OEM. osition or policy. No. 34, April 1996 U.S. Department of Teachers and the Public Agree on Education Priorities Education Teachers and the general public are in broad out of five teachers and 73 percent of the public felt agreement about how to improve our that overall academic achievement would improve nation's public schools, according to a recent substantially if persistent troublemakers were study by the Public Agenda Foundation. On removed from class. Eighty-four percent of teach- questions such as what are the essential elements ers and 76 percent of the public believed that of a curriculum and how can we help students to permanently removing students caught with drugs learn to their full potential, teachers and the or weapons would also improve academic achieve- general public share many views. The findings ment. are part of the report entitled Given the Circum- When teachers as a group were asked to rate the stances: Teachers Talk About Public Education performance of our nation's public schools, they Today, which focused on teachers but also drew believed that given the tough circumstances of When asked what from past research on the views of the public, schools and communities with inadequate resources is the most parents, and community leadership. and family and social pressures, public schools are important thing An overwhelming majority of teachers (98 performing well. In fact, more than three-fourths of public schools percent) and the general public (92 percent) teachers believed their local public schools outper- need to help believe it is "absolutely essential" for schools to form private schools. In such key areas as better teach basic reading, writing, and math skills. preparation for college, higher academic standards, students learn, Ninety-three percent of teachers and 88 percent and sounder teaching methods, teachers said that "involved of the public also want schools to emphasize public schools did a better job. Respondents felt parents" received such habits as "being on time, responsible, and that private schools do excel in the areas of smaller the top response disciplined." class size and order and discipline. from teachers. The report found a strong consensus on how When asked what is the most important thing learning goals for students should be met. Four public schools need to help students learn, "in- out of five teachers and 82 percent of the public volved parents" received the top response from supported setting up very clear guidelines on teachers. Four out of five teachers said their public what students should learn and teachers should schools are not getting enough money to do a good teach in every major subject. Eighty-three job, and 58 percent of the public shared this view. percent of teachers and 88 percent of the public Sixty-five percent of teachers and 50 percent of the felt that students should not be allowed to public thought classes are too crowded. graduate from high school unless they clearly The broad consensus reported by the study on oo demonstrate they can speak and write English education priorities and strategies to improve public well. schools forms a basis for productive dialogue 0 Order and discipline was found to be another between teachers and parents, according to Deborah shared concern of teachers and the general Wadsworth, Executive Director of Public Agenda. public. A clear majority of teachers (81 percent) "Most Americans place teachers and parents at the very top of the list of those they trust to make sound decisions about schools," she wrote in the afterword to the study. said that the worst-behaved students absorb the To purchase the full Given the Circumstances most attention in today's schools, thereby report, call Public Agenda, at (212) 686-6610.p Fla undermining learning for other students. Four 7 April Town MeetingGovernors and Business , Discusses PreparingLeaders Convene for College Education Summit he April Satellite Town Meeting will offer ast month, the nation's governors and Tpractical advice to students and their business leaders held an education families on taking the tough courses necessary summit in Palisades, New York, to discuss to prepare for college and on financing a col- actions that will accelerate school improve- lege education through savings strategies, ment in communities nationwide. Discus- scholarship sources, and state and federal loans. sions focused on how to develop and imple- Entitled "Preparing for College, Academically ment high academic standards for students, and Financially" the hour-long Town Meeting how to hold students and others accountable will air on Tuesday, April 16 at 8:30 p.m. to those standards, and how technology can Eastern Time. The program is closed-captioned be expanded as a powerful tool to improve and is simulcast in Spanish. teaching and learning. The summit was co- U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley hosted by Louis Gerstner, Jr., Chairman and and Deputy Secretary Madeleine Kunin will CEO of IBM; Wisconsin Governor Tommy welcome a panel of guests from around the Thompson, Chairman of both the National country who can share how planning ahead for Governors' Association (NGA) and the higher learning can help students succeed at Education Commission of the States; and both two-year and four-year institutions. Dis- Nevada Governor Bob Miller, Vice Chairman cussion topics will include what skills students of the NGA. need to stay in college once admitted, what President Clinton, who led the nation's financial aid is available for families who need governors at the 1989 summit to establish the extra help in paying for a student's college National Education Goals, was a keynote education, and what kinds of partnerships speaker at the summit. U.S. Secretary of between schools, businesses, and other commu- Education Richard Riley was among the nity organizations help ensure that all students other participants, who included local educa- have access to higher education. tors, state legislators, and chief state school The Department of Education produces the officers. Summit participants hoped that Satellite Town Meeting series in partnership their work will stimulate other discussions with the National Alliance of Business and the and activities on standards, accountability, Center for Workforce Preparation with support and technology. FE from the Bayer Foundation, The Procter and Gamble Fund, Microsoft, Inc., and SC Johnson Wax. Satellite coordinates are as follows.... Richard J. Deasy has been appointed C-Band: Galaxy 6, Orbital Location 74 Director of the Goals 2000 Arts Educa- degrees West; Transponder 2; Vertical Polarity; tion Partnership. In this new role, Deasy will Channel 2; Downlink Frequency 3740 MHz; lead a coalition of more than 110 arts, educa- Audio Subcarriers 6.2 MHz (Spanish) and 6.8 tion and business organizations, and founda- MHz (English). tions committed to improving arts education Ku-Band: SBS-6, Orbital Location 74 as part of comprehensive reform through degrees West; Transponder 17; Horizontal local and state use of Goals 2000 funds. Polarity; Channel 17; Downlink Frequency Deasy, a former teacher and journalist, has 12120.0 MHz; Audio Subcarriers 6.2 MHz worked for two state departments of educa- (Spanish) and 6.8 MHz (English). tion and directed another broad coalition of To participate in the Satellite Town Meeting, national and international organizations. contact your local Public Broadcasting System Sara Goldhawk has been hired to support the (PBS) member station, Chamber of Commerce, Director in the work of the partnership, or Johnson Controls branch office