
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 20, 1993                   TAG: 9305200011
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

COMMITTEE ENDORSES SCHOOL PLAN

President Clinton's proposals for revamping the nation's schools easily won a Senate committee's approval Wednesday although Republicans expressed some reservations about potential heavy-handedness.

Clinton's "Goals 2000: Educate America Act" was endorsed by the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee 14-3. Republicans cast the dissenting votes, but four of the panel's GOP members and all 10 Democrats supported the package.

Chairman Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said the legislation was "the beginning of a new partnership with states, local school districts and teachers and students in schools to revitalize our entire educational system."

He said the reforms would be "directed by local schools themselves, with support assistance when needed from the federal and state governments."

But Republicans - even those who supported the legislation - argued that it gives the federal government too large a role in educating children, traditionally considered a state and local domain in the United States.

"It does, in my mind, get too prescriptive," said Sen. Jim Jeffords, R-Vt., who supported the legislation.

"We have cleared a major hurdle in the legislative process and will continue to work diligently to gain widespread support as we see this bill through Congress," said Education Secretary Richard Riley, who presented Congress with the $420 million Goals 2000 package a month ago.

It calls for voluntary national standards for U.S. schools, but the committee removed the administration's proposed certification standards for job-training programs, choosing to deal with that matter separately.

The legislation would inscribe into federal law the six national education goals that resulted from President Bush's education summit with the nation's governors. It also would set up a national council to certify voluntary content standards for school curricula and so-called "opportunity to learn" standards.

To meet those, schools would have to offer students a broad curriculum and necessary learning aids. They also would have to allow teachers opportunities for professional enrichment.

by CNB