[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  The amendment (No. 1421) was withdrawn.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.

                          ____________________