President Bill Clinton signs Goals 2000: Educate America Act, an education bill that sets specific standards for schools to reach by 2000. Goals include: All children arrive at school “ready to learn”; high school graduation rates raised to 90 percent; competencies tested in a variety of subjects in grades 4, 8 and 12 to ensure U.S. students are first in the world in math and science; every adult has the literacy skills to compete in the global marketplace; appropriate training and support provided to teachers; and more parental involvement in the schools.
The law also establishes a national standards board to review national and state standards and develop voluntary national standards in various subjects.