Educate America Act

When people talk about education, the topic will often turn to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. But before NCLB there was the Goals 2000: Educate America Act. The Educate America Act set goals for America's schools and improved the means for achieving those goals. The act's passage put an end to categorical funding previously sponsored by the federal government and pushed responsibility for achievement to the state and local level.

History

The Educate America Act was signed into law in 1994 by President Bill Clinton. The act was based on the debate set off by "A Nation at Risk," a government report from a decade earlier. The bipartisan act was sanctioned by Congress and key educational, political and business groups. A 1996 amendment eliminated some controversial aspects of the act and allowed some school districts to disregard a number of federal education laws.

Goals

The goal of the Educate America Act was to motivate all children, regardless of racial, socioeconomic or cultural background. The act also aimed to motivate parents to become more involved with their child's education. It made funds available at state and local levels to encourage higher standards in academics and promoted a more challenging academic environment. The states were able to decide how to develop those standards and many states responded with an overhaul of their curriculum.

Application

The Educate America Act was designed as a series of community development block grants. More than $100 million was appropriated to 48 states during the first year of the Educate America Act. Sixty percent of the funding was given to local school districts for teacher development and strategic planning. Over the next four years, more than $1 billion was allotted to the states.

Misconceptions

According to the U. S. Department of Education, the Educate America Act was not designed to be a government takeover of education. As a block grant, the act did not include mandates of any kind but rather had a wide range of objectives without endorsing any specific education standards.

Comparison

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is similar to the Educate America Act in that it promotes management and flexibility among local school systems. But NCLB expands on concepts of the EAA to hold schools accountable for the success of its students. Under NCLB students must make adequate yearly progress or parents have the option of moving their child to a different school.

References

• U.S. Department of Education