Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 15, 1995 TAG: 9506150053
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
June 30 is the deadline. Gov. George Allen had asked Riley to extend Virginia's deadline to 30 days after Congress completes its revisions to the program. Although Goals 2000 in its present form gives states broad discretion on how to spend the money, Allen fears strings will be attached.
Riley said in a letter to Superintendent of Public Instruction William C. Bosher Jr. that it wouldn't be fair to other states to extend Virginia's deadline. New Hampshire is the only other state not seeking the funds.
In his letter, Riley chided Allen for suggesting that ``the absence of federal regulations for this program make it impossible to determine how the program will be implemented.''
Riley wrote: ``I must confess, in my eight years as Governor of South Carolina and nearly two and a half years as Secretary of Education, this is the first time I can remember a governor complaining about a lack of federal regulation.
``We have chosen the bold step of operating Goals 2000 without promulgating regulations in order to preserve the maximum amount of flexibility possible for participating states and localities. ... I am committed to continuing to operate Goals 2000 without issuing regulations.''
Bosher disclosed Riley's decision at a state Board of Education work session on revisions to the state's standards of learning for English and language arts.
James Jones, the board's chairman, said he hopes Allen will reconsider his position and apply for the funds by the June 30 deadline.
``I know $1.7 million is a relatively small amount of money, but it would mean an additional 1,000 to 1,500 computers in classrooms and additional teacher training,'' Jones said.
Another board member, Michelle Easton, urged Allen to stick by his guns. ``Now we have a whole year to watch it,'' she said of the program.
``I regret that Secretary Riley was not able to be more flexible,'' Bosher said. He called Allen's decision ``common sense.''
Bosher said Congress is looking at the Goals 2000 program. ``We're hoping that more flexibility is gained and that the conditions will be acceptable'' for Virginia to join the program after Congress has modified it.
Virginia still could participate in the program's second year. The state's share would be about $6.8 million.
The board is sharply divided over whether Virginia should participate in the first year. Last month, the board voted 4-3 to apply for the money. However, the board cannot seek the funds without Allen's approval.
by CNB