Goals 2000, Essay Example

Define the Goals 2000: Educate America Act? What were the National Education Goals that were stated in the act? Do you believe that we have achieved these goals? Please support your answer with two examples.

The educational program Goals 2000: Educate America Act is relatively based on eight goals that must be achieved by United States schools by the year 2000. It provides extensive support to the provision of grant-driven federal funds to local and state school districts, thus incorporating three fundamental principles, like rigorous academic standards, alignment of curriculum and textbooks, and determined student motivation to meet high standards of academic performance. As stated in the legislation, it was designed ensure children will start school ready to learn, and graduation rate will be increased to 90%, and students will graduate with high competency over challenging subject matters, to be first in the world in math and science. Furthermore, the Act promised teachers extensive access to trainings and improvement programs. By the year 2000, the act was said to literate every adult American, to possess necessary skills for global competition. As in the terms of American schools, the Act was to ensure schools free of drugs, violence, and unauthorized presence of firearms and alcohol, increasing parental involvement and participation. However, most of these goals were not completely fulfilled. For example, the goal to literate all adult Americans was not achieved, because not every adult wanted to be literate and compete in global economy. Moreover, in order to partially achieve the first goal, about children starting school ready to learn, a funding of $30 billion is required, and the whole program gave only $85 million to schools.(Knudsen & Morrissette, 2004)