    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [March 4, 1999]
    [Page 312]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 312]]

    Statement on the National Assessment of Education Progress
    March 4, 1999

        Today's release of State-by-State National Assessment of Education
    Progress scores is evidence that our efforts to raise academic standards
    have begun to pay off. Many States have shown significant improvement in
    reading in the last 4 years, and some States that had scores well below
    the national average have made the greatest gains. But much remains to
    be done to ensure that every child in America is mastering the basics.
    That is why I urge the Senate to vote this week to continue funding for
    100,000 new, well-prepared teachers to reduce class size in the early
    grades. Parents and teachers across the country know that smaller
    classes lead to improved student performance in reading and other basic
    skills. We should grasp this opportunity to build on the gains we have
    made, so that every child in America is prepared to meet the challenges
    of the 21st century.