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Department of Education

Mission Statement

What Our National Education Goals Are

A cornerstone of the Department's improvement agenda is Goals 2000: Educate America Act. The Act establishes the National Education Goals for the year 2000. They are as follows:

-- School readiness: All children in America will start school ready to learn.

-- School completion: The high school graduation rate will increase to at least 90 percent.

-- Student achievement and citizenship: All students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter, including English, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, acts, history, and geography; and every school in America will ensure that all students learn to use their minds well, so they may be prepared for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment in our Nation's economy.

-- Teacher education and professional development: The Nation's teaching force will have access to programs for the continued improvement of its professional skills and the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to instruct and prepare all American students for the next century.

-- Mathematics and science: The Nation's students will be first in the world in mathematics and science achievement.

-- Adult literacy and lifelong learning: Every adult American will be literate and will possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

-- Safe, disciplined, and drug-free schools: Every school in the United States will be free of drugs, violence, and the unauthorized presence of firearms and alcohol, and will offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning.

-- Parental participation: Every school will promote partnerships that will increase parental involvement and participation in promoting the social, emotional, and academic growth of children.

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