[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 10 (Monday, February 7, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: February 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
GOALS 2000: EDUCATE AMERICA ACT
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 1150) to improve learning and teaching by
providing a national framework for education reform; to
promote the research, consensus building, and systemic
changes needed to ensure equitable educational opportunities
and high levels of educational achievement for all American
students; to provide a framework for reauthorization of all
Federal education programs; to promote the development and
adoption of a voluntary national system of skill standards
and certifications, and for other purposes.
The Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
The amendment (No. 1421) was withdrawn.
The amendment (No. 1388) was modified as follows:
At the appropriate place in the bill, insert the following:
SEC. . PROTECTION OF PUPILS.
Section 439 of the General Education Provisions Act is
amended to read as follows:
protection of pupil rights
Sec. 439. (a) All instructional materials, including
teacher's manuals, films, tapes, or other supplementary
material which will be used in connection with any survey,
analysis, or evaluation as part of any applicable program
shall be available for inspection by the parents or guardians
of the children.
(b) No student shall be required, as part of any applicable
program, to submit to a survey, analysis, or evaluation that
reveals information concerning:
(1) political affiliations;
(2) mental and psychological problems potentially
embarrassing to the student or his family;
(3) sex behavior and attitudes;
(4) illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating and demeaning
behavior;
(5) critical appraisals of other individuals with whom
respondents have close family relationships;
(6) legally recognized privileged or analogous
relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and
ministers; or
(7) income (other than that required by law to determine
eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving
financial assistance under such program),
without the prior consent of the student (if the student is
an adult or emancipated minor), or in the case of an
unemancipated minor, without the prior written consent of the
parent.
(c) Educational agencies and institutions shall give
parents and students effective notice of their rights under
this section.
(d) Enforcement.--The Secretary shall take such action as
the Secretary determines appropriate to enforce this section,
except that action to terminate assistance provided under an
applicable program shall be taken only if the Secretary
determines that--
(1) there has been a failure to comply with such section;
and
(2) compliance with such section cannot be secured by
voluntary means.
(e) Office and Review Board.--The Secretary shall establish
or designate an office and review board within the Department
of Education to investigate, process, review, and adjudicate
violations of the rights established under this section.
Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I am not going to take but 30 seconds
to say this is the amendment I spoke about on Friday at considerable
length. I have had an opportunity to work with Senator Kennedy's staff,
Senator Kassebaum's staff, people at the Department of Education. I
feel we have worked out a very, very good compromise and this is the
compromise that is now presented and will be taken up tomorrow when we
do what is remaining of that bill.
Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Madam President, I am proud today to join Senator
Kennedy and the bipartisan coalition who have been supporting this
important piece of legislation. Goals 2000, Educate America Act, is a
key effort to reform and revitalize our education system by focusing on
reform at the school level. The provisions of this bill reaffirm our
national education goals and it is an investment in converting these
goals into reality. Such investments are long overdue.
It is worthwhile to emphasize exactly what our goals are:
First, all children will start school ready to learn;
Second, high school graduation rate will be at least 90 percent;
Third, students will achieve a basic competency in key subjects of
English, math, science, foreign language, civics, arts, history,
economics and geography;
Fourth, American students will be first internationally in math and
science;
Fifth, every citizen will be literate; and
Sixth, every school will be free of drugs and violence and offer a
disciplined environment conducive to learning.
Every parent, teacher, student, and citizen should embrace these
basic goals and work together to achieve them by the year 2000.
I firmly believe that every child should be given the opportunity to
develop to his or her full potential. Under the Goals 2000 plan, we
will widen the gateway to an education necessary to the full
development that many students crave but are unable to possess. This
program has bipartisan support in Congress, and it is a partnership
with the States and local schools, which are the frontlines of our
education system. While the legislation is voluntary, it will provide
incentives and encouragement for local schools to undertake bold
reform, and over schools flexibility to achieve it.
As a joint endeavor between the Federal Government and the States,
Goals 2000 provides Federal leadership in setting fundamental,
voluntary goals, and providing incentive to reach them. Federal support
of education reforms can spark innovative programs and initiatives
across the country. Under this plan the States and local schools will
have help and more opportunity to develop their own strategies for
reform. The Federal Government can play a pivotal role in promoting
reform and provide the teachers, parents, and students the resources
necessary to revamp their neighborhood schools.
At the heart of the Goals 2000 legislation are the challenging
national performance standards. These voluntary standards will help
define what students should know and be able to do in many core
academic areas, such as math, history, science, and English. The
voluntary standards will be formed at the Federal level, but they will
act as no more than a baseline from which States will be encouraged to
strive for excellence in education.
A second, and equally important function of the Goals 2000 program is
the continuing education program created for teachers. Continuing
professional development should be an integral part of any job, and too
often in the teaching profession the same old methods are used year
after year, with diminishing results. Any increase in expectations of
student performance must be coupled with a revitalization of the
materials and methods employed by teachers. Continued retraining
programs for teachers will enrich course content, which, along with
higher standards, will lead to better student performance.
A third element of Goals 2000 is the inclusion of the community
approach to education: realizing that educational responsibilities lie
not only with teacher and student but also with parents, businesses,
community organizations, and social services. Of these it is the parent
who takes primary responsibility. Parents provide for their children
the model of action. Parents are their children's first teachers, and
they need to be involved in their child's education.
The glue that holds this package together is the issue of
accountability. Schools should be given the resources to make necessary
changes in their methods, and the flexibility to try a range of
different approaches, but they also mut be held accountable for their
results. Federal oversight in this program is minimal. State and
community participation in this program is completely voluntary.
As chairman of the National Commission on Children, I had a unique
opportunity to travel across our country and talk to young people,
parents, and teachers. People understand that education is the key to
the future for our children and our country. Our unanimous, bipartisan
report of the National Commission on Children included recommendations
on education and it is gratifying to note that the principles of reform
outlined by the Commission are reflected in this important legislation.
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