National Educational Reform
Educational reform legislation at the Federal level
has taken several forms over the past few years. Some of the major programs that are currently in effect include:
School-To-Work Opportunities Act
Purpose: To establish a national framework to help
states create state and local School-To-Work Opportunities systems integrated with Goals 2000 systems that offer
all youth access to performance-based education and training that results in portable credentials, preparation
for first jobs in high-skill, high wage careers and increased opportunities for higher education.
Purpose: To make the U.S. more competitive in a
world economy through full development of academic and occupational skills in all people by concentrating resources
on improving educational programs leading to academic and occupational skills needed for a technologically advanced
society.
GOALS 2000 Educate America Act
Purpose: To accomplish national education goals
by improving student learning through a "long-term, broad-based effort to promote coherent and coordinated
improvement in the system of education." Encourages local, community-based reforms to meet the needs of every
student at risk, including dropouts, and coordination with school-to-work and vocational education.
Improving America's Schools Act
Purpose: Reauthorizes Elementary and Secondary Education
Act (ESEA). ESEA contains funds for a variety of services for students with special needs, with the majority targeted
for compensatory services to low-achieving students. New changes reduce the federal role in prescribing use of
program funds, increase local accountability for improving student achievement and emphasize coordinated use of
funding by Local Education Agencies.
Purpose: To ensure a more focused course of study
for all high school students, not only the college bound. The key is a comprehensive reform strategy in each school
based on these ideas: creating curricular paths to success; developing powerful teaching and learning; establishing
a comprehensive accountability and assessment system; providing comprehensive support for all students, including
language minority students and those at risk of failure; restructuring the school; and creating new professional
roles.
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