[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 40 (Monday, October 9, 2000)]
[Page 2311]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Smaller Learning Communities Grants

October 4, 2000

    I am pleased that today the U.S. Department of Education is awarding 
$42.3 million in grants to help school districts create Smaller Learning 
Communities in large high schools across the country. Nearly three-
quarters of American high schools have more than 1000 students enrolled, 
and the grants announced today will help States and local communities 
create smaller learning environments to enhance the safety and academic 
achievement of our Nation's teenagers. The Vice President and I have a 
longstanding commitment to ensuring that all children have access to a 
first-class education, and these grants provide support to State and 
local communities to work toward this goal by investing in what works. 
We know that smaller schools provide more personal attention and greater 
academic support than larger schools and outperform large schools on 
most measures of school success, including grades, test scores, 
attendance, and graduation rates--and this impact is even greater for 
minority and low-income students.
    Today I challenge Congress to extend the benefits of Smaller 
Learning Communities to more districts and schools by funding this 
program at the $120 million level proposed in my FY 2001 budget. Right 
now, the Republican leadership has proposed an education budget that 
shortchanges America's students by flat-funding the Smaller Learning 
Communities Program, and by failing to provide adequate funds to: reduce 
class size; improve teacher quality; turn around failing schools; expand 
after-school opportunities; build and modernize new schools; help 
students prepare for college through GEAR UP; and make college more 
accessible and affordable for all Americans. Congress must act now so 
that our children can receive the first-class education they deserve.