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

DATE: SATURDAY, June 24, 1995                   TAG: 9506260143
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

BEYER ASSAILS ALLEN ON FEDERAL SCHOOL AID

Gov. George Allen is shortchanging Virginia's schoolchildren by refusing to accept $8 million in education funds under the federal Goals 2000 program, Lt. Gov. Don Beyer said Friday.

"It is dead wrong to be dead last to accept needed funding to address local education needs," Beyer said at a news conference.

Virginia and New Hampshire are the only states that have refused to participate in Goals 2000, which provides for broad, voluntary goals aimed at making schools in the United States among the best in the world.

Allen reiterated his belief that federal bureaucrats could force Virginia to meet their demands if the state opted into Goals 2000. The program would provide Virginia with $1.7 million this year and another $6 million in the second year.

"Once the federal government starts giving you money, they start calling the tune," Allen told listeners on his monthly radio call-in show.

Later, the Republican governor told reporters that states' rights were more important than money that would amount to a fleck in the state's overall education budget.

"I'm not going to sell Virginia's principles or Virginia's schoolchildren to the federal government for a penny a student per day," he said.

A few hours later, Beyer shot back that Allen is so intent on beating the states' rights drum that he would walk away from federal money that could put thousands of computers in classrooms around the state.

"Refusing Goals 2000 puts Virginia at a competitive disadvantage," the Democrat said. "Other states will get the money - the same states we compete against for the best-paying jobs."

Goals 2000, which was signed into law by former President Bush, sets broad goals such as improving math and science instruction, reducing dropouts and providing safe schools.

Beyer said the Goals 2000 guidelines are voluntary and that the law gives flexibility to state and local school boards to use funds as they see fit.

Beyer accused Allen of taking Washington-bashing rhetoric - long favored by Virginia governors - to unprecedented extremes.

"I think he has gone too far," Beyer said. "I think states' rights is the wrong battle to fight right now."

by CNB