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EXECUTIVE ACTIONS AND
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION
DRAFT, December 17,1997 (1:40 pm)
The following data describes specific effects of significant executive orders,
memorandums, and actions. Each section briefly describes the relevant Administration program,
its goals, and the results, it has produced. The information is divided into the following topic ,
areas: education; children and families; crime; welfare reform; enviroriment; f~ing and the,
food supply; and aid to small businesses.
I.
Education
Charter Schools
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Advocating and Funding Charter Schools. When President Clinton took office
there was one charter school in existence, as of the 1997-1998 school year, there
are more than 800 charter schools.
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By the end of the 1997-98 academic year, there will be more than 900
charter schools operating, with the Admini~tration supporting more than
800 of these schools. Source: Department of Education.
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" The average size of charter schools is 200 students. With over 800
schools currently operating, there are over 160,000 students in charter
schools. .Source: Department of Education's National Study of Charter Schools.
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The Administration has met approximately 70 percent of the estimated
need for start-up funding for charter schools: .These federal funds
represent about 6 percent ofthe total operating costs for charter schools.
Source: Department of Education.
School Uniforms
•
Memorandum on the School Uniforms Manual, Memorandum for the Secretary
ofthe Education (February 23, 1996). Helped to deter school violence, promote
discipline, and foster a better learning environment by promoting school uniforms.
Disseminated Manual on Schooi Uniforms to nation's 16,000 school districts in
1996. In addition, 9,167 copies of the manual were distributed to persons who
, requested them.
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In Miami, 196 out of 328 public schools now require school uniforms.
Source: Department of Education
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In New York City, it is expected that 25 percent of all public schools will
require school uniforms by the end of the 1997-98 school year. Source:
Department of Education
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In Chicago, 4 o11;t of 5 public schools require school uniforms. Source:
Department of Education'
In Boston, out of 125 schools, 58 have voluntary school uniform policies
and 18 have mandatory policies. Source: Department of Education
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School to Work
•
School-to-Work Program. Helped move persons from school to work to provide
economic opportunities.
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Local Partnerships report that between December 1995 and June 1996 the
number of businesses participating in school-to-work partnerships
increased by 50 percent from 135,000 to 200,000. The number of work
based learning opportUnities offered by businesses increased from 53,000
in December 1995 to 119,000 in June. 1996. Source: Department of Labor.
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Literacy
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Of the. approximately 13 million secondary school students in the country,
state data indicate that one million, or 8 percent, participated in one or
more school-based school-to-work activity between January and June
1996. Based on the national evaluation study, 250,000 of these students,
or 2 percent, could be described as having participated in comprehensive
school-to-work activities, i.e., a career major with integrated curricula, and
. paid or unpaid work experience linked to school. Source: Department ofLabor~
Of the 111,500 elementary and secondary schools in the U.S., state data
indicate that 23 percent offer at least one component of school-to-work as
of June 1996. Source: Department ofLabor.
America Reads. Recognizing the importance of involving all Americans in the
lives of the Nation's children, the President challenged colleges and universities to
commit work-study students as reading tutors. Over 800 colleges and universities
have already committed to provide tens of thousands of work-study students as
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reading tutors in the current school year as part of America Reads.
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Americorps members are working in 94 programs across ~e country to
tutor and mentor, set up after-school and summer programs, and recruit
parents and community volunteers as tutors. In the District of Columbia,
over 1,000 college students, volunteers, seniors, and parents will tutor first
grade children in 16 of the neediest schools in the city. The Corporation is
also launching a new "Seniors in Schools" initiative in nine cities using
700 senior volunteers as literacy tutors in some of the nation's poorest
elementary schools.
Read*Write*Now! Summer Pilot Program
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The Department of Education distributed 1.5 million basic
Read*Write*Now! Kits for grades K-6 as part of the program to have
children read throughout the suinmer. In addition, 120,000 Spiderman
workbooks, 63,022 Early Childhood Family Kits, and 23,121 Early
Childhood Caregiver Kits were distributed. Thousands of black and white
versions of the above products were also distributed, and the kits were also
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�available on the Internet.
There were fourteen summer pilot sites throughout the country. These sites
served 85,000 children with help from schools, colleges, churches, literacy
organizations, and hundreds of other community orgaruzations.
Prayer in School
•
Memorandum on Religious Expression in Public Schools, Memorandum for the
Secretary ofEducation and the Attorney General (July 12, 1996). Protected the
religious expression of students by distributing a statement. of principles
addressing religious activity and expression in public schools on August 10, 1995.
This statement ~fprinciples, Religious Expression in Public Schools, was sent to .
every public school superintendent; the leadership of private elementary and
·secondary schools; national religious andschool organization leadership; and all
chief state school officers.
..
Following the development of ReligiousExpression in Public Schools, the
National School Boards Association reported that inquiries regarding how
Christmas celebrations can be accommodated inpublic schools decreased
dramatically.
Internet-Based Education Resources.
•
Promoting the Wiring ofSchools. Helpingto connect every school and classroom
in America to theinformation superhighway. A telecommunication survey in
1994 showed only 9% of schools and 3% of classrooms wired to the Internet.
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65 percent of schools and 14 percent of classrooms are now wired
for the Internet. Source: National Center for Education Statistics.
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72 percent of schools and 29 percent of classrooms have access to
the Internet. Source: Quality Education Data (QED).
•
Memorandum on Expanding Access to Internet-based Educational Resources for
. Children, Teachers, and Parents (April 18, 1997).
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The Department of Education is 'chairing an interagency effort to create a
gateway to all federal educational resources will debut in early 1998.
..
A segment of the Justice Department web page entitled Hateful Acts Hurt
Kids, which promotes the discussion of prejudice and discrimination
among children, parents, and teachers, was unveiled during the White
House Conference on Hate Crimes on November 10, 1997. During its first
week, the web page received nearly 10,000 hits.
•
Educational Technology: Ensuring Opportunity for all Children in the Next
Century, Executive Order 12999 (April 17, 1996). Providing access to modern
computers for all teachers and students. Launched the "Computers for Learning" .
program, which is a unique partnership between federal agencies, schools, and
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non-profits across the country to move more than 70,000 computers into the
nation's neediest classroom.
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Directive on Federal Resources Online in Education. More than 30 agencies are
participating in the working group and the pilot site will be unveiled in early 1998.
The Department of Education's web site receives over 6 million hits a month from'
over 300,000 computers.
•
Internet Summit. Assisting parents in learning about the Internet. The Parents
Guide to the Internet was released at the Internet Summit on December 2, 1997.
Approximately 200,000 copies of the guide will be distributed by the Education
Department's toll-free number request service, Family Partnership for Learning
members, and the Consumer Information Center.
Student Loans
•
Direct lending. A totalof 2.36 million borrowers ha\re received Direct Loans.
1.86 million of these borrowers were students, 260,000 were parents, and
240,000 were borrowers consolidating their FFEL loans into Direct Consolidation
Loans. Source: Department of Education Management Information Reports.
•
Reforming Student Loans. Through the period fiscal years 1994-97, student
borrowers have saved $1.657 billion from changes in the Student Loan Reform
Act. For the period fiscal years 1994 through 2002, the Department estimates
total student borrower savings to be approximately $5 billion. Source: Department of
Education.
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An estimated 374,000 borrowers have selected the income contingent
repayment plan. Of those who consolidated into Direct Loans, more than
one-third chose income contingent repayment. About 41 percent of
consolidation loans made as of September 30, 1997, were for borrowers
that had previously defaulted on a FFEL loan. Source: Department of Education.
During the period fiscal year 1996-98, the Department of Education will
spend $407 million for Direct Loan administration, out of a total post
secondary education management budget of $1.8 billion. Source: Department
of Education. Quality Education
•
Keeping Schools Open late. Provided additional safe havens and extended
learning opportunities for children and their families at schools around the
country. The Department of Education has developed a guidebook of promising
practices and ideas on how to start and organize after-school programs entitled
Keeping Schools Open as Community learning Centers. In fiscal year 1998, the
Administration will be able to fund 300 after-school programs serving a total of
30,000 children.
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Memorandum on Preparing Students to Meet National Standards ofExcellence
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in Eighth Grade Math and Improving Math andScience Education, Memorandum
to the Secretary ofEducation and the Director ofthe National Science
Foundation (March 6, 1997). Produced an action strategy for improving
mathematics and science education. [The National Science Foundation and the
Department of Education plan to formally submit the strategy to the White House
in early 1998 and to publicly release it shortly thereafter.] NSF and the
Department of Education have each requested an additional $40 million for fiscal
year 1999 to support the initiatives laid out in the action strategy.
Directive on Fixing FailingSchools,(October 28; 1997) By the end of January
•
1998, the Department of Education will make a guide for how to turn around low
performing schools available in print and on the Department's web page.
Directive on Improved Teaching. The Department of Education developed
'Excellence and Accountability in Teaching: A Guide to U.S. Department of
Education Programs and Resources. This guide has been widely distributed,
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including to the Chi~fState School Officers and to approximately 600 individuals
and organizations interested in teacher quality issues; and has been included in the
Department of Education's web site. [The Department of Education will'soon
release apublication that describes the most promising practices in teacher
recruitment, preparation, initial licensing, ongoing professional development,
teacher recognition, and accountability measures in teaching. In addition, the
Department will issue a biennial report on teacher quality beginning next year to
report on the Nation's progress.].
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New Resources for Teachers. Funded two new centers to improve the
quality of teaching: a $7.5 million Center for the Study of Teaching and
Policy to serve as a resource to'policy makers and a $23 million
Partnership for Excellence and Accountability iii Teaching that williaurtch
a comprehensive national effort to support and sustain long-term
improvements inteaching and learning.
II.
Children and Families
Child Support
•
Tax Offset. In 1997, over $2.1 billion has been collected, of which over $1.2
billion is child support debt and nearly $950 million is Federal debt. Note: This
number has never been released. Source: Department of Treasury,
•
Memorandum on the Child Support Initiative, Memorandum for the Secretary of
, Health and Human Services (June 18, 1996). Strengthened child support
operations by toughening paternity establishment requirements for applicants for
welfare and by enabling States to locate, and withhold wages'from, obligors who
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�have taken ajob in another State. The Clinton Administration collected a record
$12 billion in child support in 1996 through tougher enforcement, an increase of
$4 billion, or nearly 50 percent, since 1992 .. In 1996, the number of child support
cases with collections also rose ~o 4 million, an increase of 43 percent, from 2.8
million in 1992. In 1996, the number of paternities established rose to nearly 1
million, almost double, from 516,000 in 1992.
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Requiring HHS and the u.s. Postal Service to implement a policy ofposting
"Wanted Lists" in post offices ofparents who owe child support (1996). In 1997,
the following 12 states displayed "Wanted Lists" for delinquent child support
offenders: California, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, and South
Dakota.
•
Child Support Enforcement System Web Site (1996). Used the Internet to help
people access the child support·enforcement system more easily and effectively -
and to help find those parents who are not paying the child support they owe. In
1997, the Child Support Enforcement web page received over 238,000 hits.
•
Supporting Families: Collecting Delinquent Child Support Obligations, Executive
Order 13019· (September 28, 1996). Facilitated the collection of delinquent child
support obligations from persons who may be entitled or eligible to receive certain
Federal payments' or assistance. The first administrative offset was taken on June
, 10, 1997. To date, 843 payments, have been offset, ,and $186,581 has been
collected through the Administrative Offset Program.
Child Care
•
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Under President Clinton's leadership, federal funding for direct child care
subsidies has increased by nearly 70 percent since he took office, providing child,
care services for over one million children. In 1993, the Federal Government
spent approximately $1.4 billion on the IV -A Child Care and the Child Care and
Development Block Grant programs, which together served abouf630,000
children. In 1997, approximately $2.9 billion in the Child Care and Development
FUnd served almost 1.1 million children.
Memorandum on Improving the Quality of Child Care in the United States,
Memorandumfor the,Secretary ofDefense (April 17, 1997). Directed the
Department of Defense to share the expertise and lessons learned from the
Military Child Development Programs with Federal, State, tribal, and local
agencies, as well as with private and honprofit groups, that are responsible for
providing child care. The October 15 Interim Report to the President on'this
initiative, cited a variety of steps ,taken, including creation of a toll free number
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�(1.,.888~CDP-3040) for civilian programs to order DoD training materials and
training over 100 personnel to serve as speakers for the DoD Child Development
Program Speakers' BUreau.
Protecting Children from Crime
•
Memoral1dum on Child Safety Lock Devices for Handguns (March 5, 1997).
Required that a child gun safety device to be issued to every Federal employee
who carries "a firearm on official duty. Approximately 30,000 Justice Department
employees, including those at the FBI, DEA, INS, and the Marshals Service, have
been issued an appropriate lock. Safety lock devices have also been issued fot the
approximately 20,000 Treasury personnel who use firearms in the line of duty.
Source: Departme"nt of the Treasury: Department of Justice..
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Under the President~s leadership, 8 major handgun manufacturers who
make the vast majority of handguns in the country, have agreed to provide
child safety devices with each handgun sold.
Memorandum on the Development ofa National Sexual Offender Registration
System, Memorandumfor the Attorney General (July 25, 1996). Improved the
safety and protection of children through creation of a national sex offender
registry. As of December 1, 1997,20 states, representing 44.2 percent of the U.S.
population, have contributed to the national registry which now includes
information "about approximately 27,000 offenders.
Balancing Work and Family
•
Memorandum on Expanded Family and Medical Leave Policies (April 11, 1997)
In April 1997, the President asked Federal agencies to implement his expanded
reave policy immediately for Federal workers. Source: Department of Labor.
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In leave years 1995 and 1996, a total of 226,554"employees took leave
under FMLA at the Department of Defense, of which 134,768 (59.5%)
were men and 91,786(40.5%) were female. Source: Department of Defense.
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In 1995,33,218 Department of Treasury employees used 4"10,373 hours
under FMLA for family care or bereavement purposes. In 1996, the
number increased to 44,060 employees and 535;515 hours. Source:
Department of Treasury.
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Memorandum on Implementing Federal Family Friendly Work Arrangements
(June 21, 1996). Supported agencies in promoting family-friendly work"
arrangements including alternative work schedules, "flexiplace" (telcommuting),
job sharing, career p~-time employment, child care, leave sharing, transportation
subsidies, and employee assistance programs.
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Approximately 46 percent of the Department of Commerce workforce are
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�working under some fOIm of alternative work schedule. Source: Department
of Commerce.
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Over 50 percerit of the Department of Defense workforce are working
under some form of alternative work schedule. Over 300,000 Departrrt:ent
of Defense employees are on flex time, and approximately 3,000
employees telecommute. Source: Department of Defense.
Eighty-five percent of the Department of Labor's employees are on some
form of alternative work schedule (flexi time or compressed. schedule). In
addition, 22 percent telecommute. Source: Department of Labor.
Approximately 95 percent of the Department of Transportation's
employees are eligible for some form of alternative work schedule
(flexitime or compressed schedule). In addition, there are currently over
900 employees who telecommute at least once a week. Source: Department of
. Transportation.
Over 70,000 employees at the Department of the Treasury use the various
types of flex time. Source: Department of Treasury.
Health Care
•
.Immunization. As a result of the President's 1993 Childhood Immunization
Initiative, childhood immunization rates have reached an historic high ..
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90 % or more of
America's toddlers in 1996 received the most critical doses of each of the
routinely recommended vaccines -- surpassing the President's 1993 childhood
vaccination goal.
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Immunization-Child Care Initiative (July 23, 1997). - Continued to
improve child immunization through beginning work on an integrated
munization registry system .so that when children change doctors,the
new doctor will have access to the child's immunization record .. In
1997, the President also announced that all children in federally
subsidized child care centers are required to be immun,ized.
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Protecting Mothers and Their Newborns by ending drive-thru deliveries (1996).
Spearheaded legislation requiring insurance companies to cover at least 48 hour
hospital stays following most normal deliveries and 96 hours after a Caesarean .
section.[HHS does not have very good statistics on how many women are helped
by this. For the most part, this is being implemented by th~ states, and HHS will
have no direct program data.]
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Memorandum on Importation ofRU-486, Memorandum for the Secretary of
Health and Human Services (January 22, 1993). Directed assessing initiatives by
which Department of Health and Human Services can promote the testing,
licensing, and manufacturing in the United States of RU-486 or other
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antiprogestins. On September 18, 1996, the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) issued an approval letter to the Population Council for mifepristone
(commonly referred to as RU-486), when used in combination with misoprosto1,
for the termination of early pregnancy. The Population Council has not yet
submitted the manufacturing control or chemistry information identified as
required in the approval letter. When the FDA receives all the information'
identified in the approval letter, it will have up to six months to make a'decision
on the application~
Housing Opportunity
•
FHA Fees. The President has cut FHA home mortgage insurance premiunis four
times. One reduction, applying to all first-time home buyers will save home
buyers $200 in closing costs on the average FHA mortgage of $85,000. Another
will save first-time home buyers in central cities who participate in home
ownership counseling an additional $200. In all, cuts approved by President .
Clinton have cut average FHA closing costs for first-time home buyers by $1,200
around the country and will cut closing costs by $1,400 in central cities. Last year,
FHA provided financing for 800,000 homeowners, many of whom were first-time
home buyers --and many of these families would not be homeowners if it were not
, for the actions taken by the Clinton Administration ..
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Making It Easier to QualifYfor Mortgage Loans. The FHA has eliminated .
unnecessary and overly strict requirements under its loan program that
made it difficult for many faIll,ilies to qualify for mortgage loans. '
•
Financing. Provided financing to help 40,000 rural people buy single-family
homes, including the construction of 14,000 homes under the Self-Help Housing
program, in which low-income people gain "sweat equity" by participating in the'
construction of their own homes. USDA also financed the building of 7,900 units.
of multiple-family housing. In total, USDA's Rural Housing Service invested
more than $2.6 billion either as loans, guaranteed loans, or grants in rural housing
last year. More than 58,000 jobs were created as a resultof housing construction
. generated by USDA programs. Source: u.s. Department of Agriculture. .
•
Rental Assistance. Provided $540 million in rental assistance to help nearly.
40,000 rural, low-income households obtain well-built, safe housing. Fifty
percent of the rental program beneficiaries were elderly, with average annual
income of less than $7,300. Source: u.S. Department of Agriculture.
Child Worker Labels
•
.Child Worker Labels (August 1996). Because the child labor labeling programs
are relatively recent, and definitive data: on costs and benefits as wellas consumer.
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demand are 'not available, the newest report does not attempt to make quantitative
assessments of their effectiveness.
Adoption
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SpeCial needs. Signed the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996, which
provides a $5,000 tax credit to families adopting children, and $6,000 tax credit
for families adopting children with special needs. Since President Clinton took
office, the number of children with special needs who have been adopted with
federal adoption assistance has risen by 60 percent.
Teen Prermancy
•
National Strategy to Reduce Teen Pregnancy. In 1998, $50 million was allocated
to state abstinence education activities. This follows several years of specific
focus on reducing teen pregnancy.
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The U.S. birth rate for teenagers in 1996 was 54.7 births per 1,000 women
aged 15-19 years, down 4 percent from 1995 (56.8). The teenage birth rate
has declined by 12 percent since 1991 (62.1). Source: National Ce~ter for Health
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Statistics, preliminaQ' 1996 statistics (September 1997).
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Birth rates for teenagers 15-19 years declined between 1991 and 1995 in
all states and the District of Columbia, echoing the national trends during
this time. Rates fell by 12 percent or more in 12 states; declines in 5 states
exceeded 16 percent. Source: National Center for Health Statistics, preliminaQ' 1996
statistics (September 1997).
Domestic Violence
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III.
Violence Against Women. Legislation provides for hiring more prosecutors and
improving domestic violence training among prosecutors, police officers, and
health and social services professionals, Established a nationwide 24-hour
domestic violence hotline providing immediate crisis intervention and local
shelter-referral to victims that has received over 140,000 calls since February
1996. The Clinton Administration has granted states, territories, and Native
American tribes nearly $300 million to support the system of 1,400 emergency
shelters, safe homes, and related services nationwide.
Moving People from Welfare to Work
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Memorandum on Government Employment for Welfare Recipients (March 8,
1997). A total of 2229 employees have been hired off of public assistance by the
federal' government.
Welfare-to-Work
Commitments and Hires through November 22, 1997
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�as Reported by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management
,
Total
Commitment
Thru2000
1997
Hires
Reported
Thru 10-22-97
% of Total
Year 2000
Commitment
Hired Since
3-8-97 .
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
--
2
-
Department of Agriculture
375
127
34%
Department of Commerce
4180
80
2%
Department of Defense
1600
375
23%
Department of Education
21
7
33%
Department of Energy
55
12
22%
Department of Health & Human Services
300
148
49%
Department of Housing & Urban Development
200
41
21%
Department of the Interior
325
69
21%
Department of Justice
450
68
15%
Department of Labor
120
54
4.5%
Departmentof State
220
10
5%
Department of Transportation
400
106
27%
Department of the Treasury
405
57
14%
Department of Veterans Affairs
8.00
635
79%
Environmental Protection Agency
120
32
27%
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
-
5
--
Executive Office of the President
6
6
100%
Federal Emergency Management Agency
125
27
22%
General Services Administration
121
50
41%
National Aeronautics & Space Administration
40
8
20%
National Credit Union Administration
--
--
4
--
I
--
25
31
124%
--
I
--
AGENCY
National Labor Relations Board
~ffiC' ofPe"onn.! M""agement
Railroad Retirement Board
11
�Securities & Exchange Commission
10
6
60%
Small Business Administration
120
33
28%
Social Security Administration
600
218
36%
20
15
75%
--
I
--
10638
2229
. U.S. Infonnation Agency
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
TOTAL
IV.
Crime, Gangs, and Drugs
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Memorandum on Implementation ofthe Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative
(July 8, 1996). Traced approximately 93,477 guns from 27 communities (17 .
original sites and 10 new sites) through the use of an innovative computer
: software system that examines crime gun trace information and provides law
enforcement officers with crucial investigative leads about the sources of these
guns. Source: DepartmentofTreasury. Note: These numbers are updated from the
numbers released in July 1997 (and have not been released).
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Memorandum on Gun Dealer Licensing,. Memorandum for the Secretary ofthe
Treasury (August 11, 1993) This initiative strengthened the system oflicensing
. gun dealers, and assure their compliance with applicable rules. The initiative was
largely superseded by provisions in the Brady law and the Violent Crime Control
and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. As of December 10, 1997, the total number
of federal firearms licensees (FFLs) is 106,997, down from 279,839 in April 1994,
and the total number ofFFL dealers is 88,590 down from 252,799. Source:
Department of the Treasury.
Note: These numbers have never been released.
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Memorandum on Enforcing the Youth Handgun Safety Act, Memorandumfor the
Secretary ofthe Treasury (June 11, 1997). A notice of proposed rulemaking
concerning warning signs on guns and juveniles to be posted by federally licensed
gun dealers was published in the Federal Register on August 27, 1997. Final
regulations are being drafted and are expected to be completed in early 1998.
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National Community Policing Number ofNon-Emergency Calls (311) (July 23,
1996). As'sisted in more efficient use of police resources by encouraging use of
"311" for non-emergency calls. During its first year of operations in Baltimore,
911 calls for police services have declined 24.8 percent and 50,000 hours of
police officer time has been saved.
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Memorandum on Federal Arrestee Drug Testing (December 18, 1995). Increased
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�drug testing of criminal defendants. In fiscal year 1997, data from 24 districts
indicated that 9,308 defendants, or 56 percent of defendants, were tested, which is
an 89 percent increase over the 4,929 defendants, or 28 percent of defendants,
tested in fiscal year 1996, and that 1,252 defendants received drug treatment,
which is an 190 percent increase over the 431 defendants treated in fiscal year
1996. Source: Department of Justice.
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Promoting Curfews. Promoted increasing the number of American cities,
including disseminating a bulletin entitled Curfew: An Answer to Juvenile
Delinquency arid Victimization? 71 percent of 1,649 respondents to the Justice
Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's October
1997 survey of recipients of the curfew bulletin reported that they live in a
jurisdiction with a curfew. Source: Justice Department Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention survey (October 1997.
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In 1997,276 of347 cities (80 percent) have a nighttime curfew, and 72
have a daytime curfew as well. In 1995,272 of 387 cities (70 percent) had
a nighttime curfew. Source: u.s. Conference of Mayors SUITey (1997).
88 percent (263) of the cities reported that curfew enforcement helped
make streets safer and 83 percent (222) reported that curfews helped curb
gang violence. Source: u.s. Conference of Mayors Survey (997).
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Cracking down on truancy. The Admiriistration has provided a Manual to
Combat Truancy to the 15,000 school districts in the country and to 51,000 other
persons who requested copies. A copy of the manual has also been placed on the
Safe and Drug Free Schools' web page.
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Presidential Initiative Requiring Greater ProofofState Residency Before
Purchasing a Firearm (March 5, 1997). Following the February 23 shooting at the
Empire State Building, the President asked the Secretary of the Treasury to
examine what might be done to prevent unlawful firearms purchases by aliens
legally in the United States. ATF responded on April 21, 1997 by amending the
firearms purchase form and related regulations to require purchasers to declare
their citizenship status, and to require aliens to present photo identification and
documentary evidence establishing their 90-day residence in the state of purchase.
[Data, however, is not available on this initiative as gun dealers are not required to
report information on denial rates.]
•.
Memorandum on the "One Strike and You're Out" Guidelines, Memorandumfor
the Secretary ofHousing and Urban Development (March 28, 1996). Denied .
admission to applicants and evicted tenants in public housing authorities (PHAs).
who have engaged in illegal drug use or other criminal activities. The guidance
permits PHAs to institute and enforce tough rules to protect the safety of families
living in public housing.
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Of the 1,859 out of3,192 (58%) total PHAs responding to the Department
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�of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Public and Indian
Housing March 1997 survey, 1,392 PHAs had implemented "One Strike"
programs. These 1,859 PHAs completed 3,847 evictions in the six months
after "One Strike" took effect. [It should be noted that these evictions did
not necessarily result from PHAs' One Strike practices, and no eviction
statistics for prior years are available for comparison purposes. The
responding PHAs also reported that 19,589 people were denied admission
to public housing for criminal or drug-related activity in the six months
following enactment of One Strike. Again, these actions did not
necessarily result from One Strike, and no figures for comparison are
available.] Source: Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Public
and Indian Housing survey <March 1997).
V.
Environment
•
Memorandum on Community Right-to-Know Initiatives, Memorandumfor the
Administrator ofthe Environmental Protection Agency and the Heads of
Executive Departments and Agencies (August 8, 1995). On October 8, 1995,
President Clinton directed EPA to consider whether to add to the list of industries
covered under the Community Right-to-Know Toxic Release Inventory reporting
program. EPA published a final rule on May 1, 1997 which added seven
industries to the list of industries covered under the reporting program: metal
mining, coal mining, electric generating facilities that combust coal and oil,
hazardous waste treatment facilities regulated under Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act Subtitle C, wholesale chemical distributors, wholesale petroleum
distributors, and solvent recovery facilities.
•
Saving Yellowstone from mining.
~
In August 1996, President Clinton announced an agreement to protect
Yellowstone National Park from a proposed mine just outside the park
which would have endangered the quality and quantity of waters flowing·
into the park.
•
Memorandum Ordering Planning (with DOl) for Demonstration Transportation
Systems in 3 Parks (April 22, 1996) On Earth Day 1996, President Clinton asked
the Secretary of the Interior and .the Secretary of Transportation to develop a plan
to enhance resource protection and the quality of the visitor experience in national
parks though innovative transportation planning. Plans are in place for parks at
Zion, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon.
•
Protection afthe Old Growth California Redwoods. The United States and State
ofCali fomi a are acquiring the Headwaters Forest--the largest privately held stand
of old growth redwood trees. Together with buffer areas, the governments will
.
14
�preserve 7500 acres of significant habitat for several endangered species,
, including the marbled murrelet and coho salmon. [Negotiations are continuing on
the Habitat Conservation Plan.]
,
•
Protection ofChildren from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks,
Executive Order 13045 (April 21, 1997). The executive order directed EPA to
ensure that the Agency's regulatory actions address the disproportionate risks to
children from environmental threats. In May 1997, Administrator Browner
created the Office of Children's Health Protection. In September 1997, EPA
hosted the first-ever national conference on "Preventable Causes of Childhood
Cancer." In September 1997, EPA and HHS announced $10 million in joint
funding for six research centers to examine children's environmental health,
issues. EPA has drafted regulatory guidance for the Agency to ensure adequate
protection of children from environmental threats.
•
Memorandum on Public-Private Partnerships for Protection ofthe National
Parks (April 26, 1996). Raiseda record amount of donations from park
Cooperating Associations (over $17 million last year).
...
The National Park Foundation (NPF), a non-profit, tax-exempt
organization, has initiated many major programs:
...
A $1 million commitment from American Airlines for trail
restoration and accessibility projects in national parks.
...
Target Corporation raised $5 million for the restoration of the
Washington Monument.
...
A$1 million donation from the Toyota Foundation to support the
Parks as Classrooms educational program.
•
Restrictions on Pesticides. In 1996, President Clinton signed into law the Food
Quality Protection Act (FQPA) which includes a consistent, health-based standard
for pesticide residues, use of an additional safety factor to ensure protection of
children, and revisions to
pesticide risk assessment process. Since FQPA was
passed, EPA has registered 29 new pesticides, 20 of which were safer reduced
risk and biological pesticides. In 1993, the Clinton Administration stated its
commitment to safer biological and reduced-risk pesticides.
the
VI.
Promoting Volunteerism and Service to Communities
•
Presidents' Summit for America. April,1997 Summit brought together private
sector, non-profits, and state and local government in his campaign to promote
service. A complete report of results is available. The Summit has led over 150
15
�cities and states to hold mini-summits.
~
77 organizations answered the President's challenge and are offering to
sponsor 10,000 new AmeriCorps members. In June, the Corporation
approved 8,900 of these scholarships, ahead of a first-year plan for 5,000
scholarships.
•
National Service Scholarships. Awarded to over 1,600 high school students with
outstanding records of community service. Next year, the Administration hopes
that 10,000 high schools in the nation will participate -- almost half of all high
schools.
•
Coalition to Sustain Success. Vice President has led a new partnership of civic
organizations that is working with state and local government to mentor families
seeking to leave welfare for work.
•
The Welfare to Work Partnership. Mobilized over 2500 businesses to hire
welfare recipients.
•
Small Business and Welfare to Work. SBA has received 800 pledges from small
businesses willing to hire former welfare recipients through the work of our Small
Business Development Centers.
VII. Consumers and Taxpayers
Food Safety
•
Comprehensive Food Safety. The President has implemented a comprehensive
initiative to improve the safety of nation's food supply and detailed a $43
million food safety program, including measures to iniprove surveillance,
outbreak response, education, and research. Other significant actions:
~
August, 1996 -- Signed Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996. The law
requires drinking water systems to·protect against dangerous
contaminants like cryptosporidium, and gives people the right to know
abourcontaminants in their tap water.
~
July, 1996 -- Announced new regulations that modernize the nation's
meat and poultry inspection system for the first time in 90 years. New
. standards help prevent E.coli bacteria contamination in meat.
~
December, 1995 -- Issued new rules to ensure seafood safety. Utilizes
HACCP regulatory programs to require food industries to design and
implement preventive measures and increase the industries'
responsibility for and control of their safety. assurance actions.
16
�Consumer Health
•
Amendment to Executive Order 13017, Advisory Commission on Consumer
Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry, Executive Order 13040
, (March 25, 1997). Established the President's Advisory Commission on
Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry which promotes and
assures consumer protection and health care quality .
.,
On November 20, 1997, the Commission issued its Interim Report
outlining a proposed Consumer Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.
Increasing Seatbelt'Use .
•
Memorandum on Increasing Seatbelt Use, Memorandum for the Secretary ofthe
Transportation (January 23, 1997). Requires seat belt use by Federal employees
on-the-job .
.,
The Department is developing a Report to Congress to reflect the
activity to date on the Presidential Initiative for Increasing Seat
Belt Usage Nationwide. The Report will include the progress
made towards reaching the new national seat belt and child safety
seat goals.
In 1997, three primary seatbelt laws went into affect (Maryland,
Oklahoma, and the District of Columbia) bringing the total to 13
states and Puerto Rico that allow a driver to'be stopped primarily
because the seatbelt was not being used. Source: Department of
Transportation .
.,
[There are no new data at this time to reflect a change in safety belt
usage as a result of the Presidential Initiative for Increasing Seat
Belt Usage Nationwide. Safety belt,usage data will not be
available until early 1998.]
Crackdown on Food Stamp Fraud
•
Anti-Fraud Program. Issuance error rates for food stamps have declined in each
of the past three years, resulting in total savings of$660 million. In June 1997,
the 1996 error rate dropped to 9.22 percent from the previous year's 9.72 percent,
resulting in a single-year savings of more than $85 million for the program.
•
Pre-authorization Screening ofRetailers;' Tougher Post-Authorization Controls;
and Stiffer Penalties for. Violators. During fiscal year 1997;the Food Stamp
Program vonducted 4,627 investigations of stores, and fired or disqualified 1,584
retailers for program violations. Of those, 712 retailers, 'with redemptions -of
$79.5 million, were identified as having engaged in trafficking, or having
exchanged food stamps for cash~
,
•
Optional State-funded food assistance programs for legal citizens and childless,
able-bodied adults who were made ineligible for Federal food stamp benefits
under welfare reform. Currently, eight States have chosen to implement their own
17
�programs, and issued approximately $13 million in benefits during August and
September of 1997 (the initial months of operation) to nearly 122,000 households.
•
Talon. USDA expects to announce in December 1997 the results of
OPERATION TALON, a national law enforcement effort to apprehend dangerous
fugitives involved with food stamp fraud.
'VIII. Combating Hunger and Promoting Agriculture
Nutrition and Hun~er Pro~rams
•
Goalfor WIC Program to Reach Full Participation of 7. 5 million. Participation
in WIC has expanded nearly 30 percent, from 5.7 million at the start of fiscal year
1993 to almost 7.4 million at the end of fiscal year 1997. Source: u.s. Department of
Agriculture
•
Reducing WIC Costs. WIC State agencies have contracted with infant formula
manufacturers to obtain rebates on infant formula. These competitively-bid
contracts have reduced food costs, increasing WIC participation with increasing
WIC appropriation. In fiscal year. 1997, this resulted in $1.2 billion in savings,
permitting service to 1.6 million additional participants. Source: U,S, Department of
Agriculture.
•
Gleaning. Helped to feed the' hungry through the promotion of food recovery and
gleaning.
..
A joint USDA-Department of Defense initiative, announced ,in September
1997, has recovered over $1.4 million worth of food, and channeled it
through 29 State ,agencies. An additional $10 million of food is
anticipated to be recovered over the next 18 months. Source: u.S. Department
of Agriculture.
..
Assistin~
•
Over 15,000 pounds of food have been recovered from USDA's farmers'
markets for distribution to food banks, Source: u.s. Department of Agriculture,
Agricultural Communities
.Loan Guarantees. Provided loans and loan guarantees totaling $2.3 billion to
over 27,000 family-sized farmers. Direct operating loans totaling $65 million
were provided to over 1,900 socially-disadvantaged farmers (SDA), exceeding the
initial targeted allocation for SDA farmers by 22%, Direct operating loans made
'to SDA farmers increased by 11 % from fiscal year 1996. Source: u.S. Department of
Agriculture,
•
Emergency Aid. Provided $3.5 million to nearly 4,000 farmers in North and
18
�South Dakota whose livestock were in danger of perishing due to severe winter
storms. Provided over $22 million in cost share assistance fot emergency
livestock feed to approximately 30,000 farmers in North Dakota, South Dakota,
and Minnesota. Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture.
•
Expanded Crop Insurance and Crop Revenue Coverage.
~
Expanded the crops covered under the crop insurance program. For the
1997 (1998 citrus) crop year, 29 different crops with permanent programs
established were added to the crop insurance program in 343 counties in
25 states. For the 1998 (1999 citrus) crop year, coverage will be expanded
on 25 different crops in 144 additional counties in 16 states. Source: U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
~
The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board of Directors
approved the expansion of Crop'Revenue Coverage (CRC) for the 1997
and 1998 crop years for com, cotton, grain sorghum, and wheat. CRe is
now available on almost 90 percent of the com, wheat, cotton, soybeans,
and'grain sorghum acres in the U.S.
Creating Rural Jobs
•
Rural Business-Cooperative Service. Financed the start~up or expansion of 1,183
rural businesses or cooperatives, creating or preserving more than 53,000 jobs in
the process. About $936 million was extended by USDA's Rural Business
Cooperative Service as loans, guaranteed loans, or grants to rural businesses and
cooperatives. Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture.
•
Rural Empowerment Zones. Invested more than $60 million in the nation's three
rural Empowerment Zones and 33 rural Enterprise Communities. As a result of
these efforts, over 7,000 jobs have been created or saved; 1,100 public service
facilities have been built or renovated; and more than 700,000 rural citizens are
now receiving additional serVices. Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture.
•
Telecommunications aniRural Americans~ Loaned $380 million for 79 rural
telecommunications projects that provided improved service to more than 211,000
rural households and businesses, including more than 43,000 new customers.
These investments created over 8700 new jobs. Source: u.s. Department of Agriculture.
Farm Worker Safety
•
Agricultural Worker Protection. In implementing its worker protection standard,
2.5 million agricultural workers have received specIalized pesticide training on
worker protection during this Administration. In 1993, EPA created the Pesticide
Stewardship Program, a voluntary public/private partnership to reduce the use of
and risks associated with pesticides. To date, there are 97 organizations, '
representing 55,000 growers and 17,300 non-agricultural pesticide users,
19
�.
/
.
participating. These groups include the U.S. Department of Defense which has·
already reduced pesticide use 'by 40% and expects to reduce its pesticide use by
50% by Earth Day 1998; Gerber Products Company which established a company
goal of no detectable pesticide residues in its finished products; and Monroe
. County Community Schools (IN) which has reduced pesticide applications by
90% and has achieved a 99% reduction in pest management costs.
x.
Helping Small Business
•
Increasing Small Business Access to Capital and Credit. In 1997, SBA achieved the
highest program level ever in its 7(a) business loan guarantee program. SBA guaranteed
$9.5 billion in loan guarantees. SBA's combined 7(a) business loan and 504 economic
development loan approvals were also the highest ever at $10.9 billion. 49,419 small
businesses received assistance in 1997.
•
Small Business Investment Companies. SBICs invested a record $2.4 billion in 1997 ..
SBICs financed 2,733 small business, ~ith more than 90 percent of. the investments in
the form of equity.. Industry analysts estimate that the number of SBA supported
investments is 28 percent more than those made by private venture. capital firms.
•
SBA's One-Stop Capital Shops. SBA now administers 15 One-Stop Capital. Shops in low
income communities across the country. Small business owners and individuals hoping
to start a new business can walk in the door and have access to a range of governmental
services; business information, counseling and assistance, and lending services.
•
Microloans. SBA has provided over 6,300 microloans totaling $65 million through 103
intermediary lenders and 22 non-lending technical assistance providers.
•
Regulatory Reform. SBA revised all of its regulations, converting them to plain English
and eliminating more than half of the pages. SBA has eliminated more than 2/3rds. of the
total pages in the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), from 25,000 pages to 8,000
pages.
•
Improving Customer Service. SBA's PRO-Net system - an on-line service to link small
businesses with federal procurement opportunities has gone operational with more than
171,000 small businesses listed on the system. SBA has created ACE-Net - an on-line
service tnat links investors with emerging small businesses seeking equity investments. 8
non-profit operators located throughout the country are now operating the system. The
goals are to have an operator in each of the 50 states as issues of consistency with state
securities laws are resolved.
20
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'OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
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�DEC-10-1997
18:37
FROM
U.S.DEd OS/EXEC SEC
IU
UNTIED SI'ATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
oma; OF1HE SECRETARY
December 10, 1997
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Thurgood Marshall. Jr.
Assistant to the President and
Secretary to the Cabinet
Leslie T. Thornton
Chiefof Staff
s
Administration Accomplishments
Attached is the Department of Education's response to the request for information on
progress we have made implementing Presidential Executive Orders~ memoranda,
directives and other initiatives.
I.hope this information is helpfuL If you have any questions, please contact me at
401"-3001.
.
Attachment
600 INDEPENDItNCE AVE.. S.W. WASHIlfCTON. D.C. 20'202
�DEC-10-1997
18:38
FROM
U.S.DEd OS/EXEC SEC
TO
Presidential Policy Initiatives: All DepaJ1DJ.cnts
1.
Initiati)'e; Memorandum on Expanded Family and Medical Leave Policies,
Memortmdumfor the Heads 0/ Executive Depa1'l1nenl and Agenc~es (April 11, 1997)
Proms';
The Department ofEducation issued a directive on January 23, 1995, advising employees
of the changes under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Internal leave policy is
cunently being revised to highlight FMLA and other family friendly leave provisions.
The Department also adopted the Presidential hUtiative on expanded family and medical
leave policy ensuring leave 'Without pay for certain family responsibilities that are beyond
the scope ofthe FMLA. We are in the process ofpreparing a brochure explaining all the
family friendly program flexibilities within the Department, including FMLA and other.
sick leave policies. This brochure is in the draft stages and will be issued soon. .
�OEC-10-1997
2.
18:38
FROM
U.S. OEd OS/EXEC SeC
IU
Initiative: Supporting Families. Colhding Delinquent Child Support Obligations,
Executive O,der 13019 (September 28,1996)
Progras:
Executive Order 13019 requires agencies to deny federal assistance to individuals who
are past -due on child support obligations if federal assiStance payments to these
individuals are subject to administrative offset. The Debt Collection Improvement Act
. expressly exempts payments from Title IV ofthe Higher Education Act from
administrative offset. Therefore, the Department of Education has not denied stUdent
loans to individuals who are behind on child support obligations.
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InitiatiYti Memo,tuulllm on FlIIIIily Friendly Wo,k A"angements, Memo,turdumjo,
the Heads ojEuclltive Department lIlid Agencin (JuDe 21, 1996)
ProamSi
In response to the initiative there are a number of family friendly arrangements available
at the Department of Education, including the following:
-Alternate Work Schedules: compressed. flexitour, and ~iding schedules are available.
-Various Leave Policies: annual and sick leave, leave for bone marrow and organ
donation, family and medical leave, and other options. are available.
-Voluntary Leave Transfer Program that allows employees to donate leave to other
employees to cover extended sick leave.
-Volunteer Initiatives: employees are able to participate in volunteer activities within the
community by matching annual leave with a limited amount of admjDj~ve leave.
-Employee Assistance Program: employees can receive assistance with work and family
related problems, including elder care, grief counseling, stress-related issues, family.
marital and relationship crises, and other problems.
-Child care: The Department sponsors a day care Center for children of its employees.
-Miscellaneous: The Department has an on-site clinic for its employees providing such
health services-as blood pressure checks and physicals. We are also conduc~ng
awareness programs on family violence issues and violence in the work place.
,
�DEC-10-1997
4.
18:38
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Ipitiative; Memorandum 011 Government Employmt!nt 0/ Welfare Recipients,
Memorfllldum/or the Hefuls ofExeclllive Departments and Agencies (Manh 8, 1997)
Promss:
The Department of Education Annual Report was submitted on November 21, 1997.
�DEC-10-1997
18:39
FROM
U.S.DEd
DS/~X~~ Sc~
IU
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.t;Jf.r c..J.,
Presidential Policy Initiatives: Department of Education
1.
Initi8tive: Memortl1ldumon the School Uniforms Manual, Memo,aMumfo, the
Secretary ofEdUC4tion (February l3, 1996)
Progress:
In response to the memorandum., the Department ofEducation released a Manual on
School Uniforms in April 1996. The manual was distributed to every school district in
the country~ and was put on the Safe and Drug-Free Scho~ls Program web site. In .
addition 9,167 copies of the manual were distributed to persons who sent requeSts to the
Department. Articles related to the Manual and the adoptiop. ofschool uniform policies
ran in every major newspaper in the country. and on most major networkS. Publicity
regarding the Manual and the adoption of school uniform policies has been
overwhelmingly positive. While at the time the School Uniform M~ual was released
there was not a significant amount ofdata or statistics related to number of schools that
bad school uniform policies. anecdotal data indicated that only one school district (Long
Beach, CA) and a handful ofschools scattered throughout the country had adopted a
school uniform policy.
.
NOTE: The Department is currently analyzing the results ofthe Fast Response Survey,
which includes specific questions on whether school uniforms were required during the
1996-91 school year: Data on'this issue will be available· January 5.
. Over the past two years, we have seen a growing number of schools in every part ofthe
countrr adopt school uniform policies. For example:
-In Miami. 196 out of328 public schools now reqUire school uniforms.
-In New York City, it is expected that 25% of all public schools will require school·
. nif~nns by the end of the 1997-98 school year.
u
-In Chicago~ 4 out ofS public schools require uniforms.
-In Boston, out of 125 schools, 58 have voluntary school uniform policies and l8 have
mandatory .
�DEC-10-1997
18:39
FROM
U.S.DEd
OS/EX~C ~cL
IU
,"
2.
Ipitiatjye; Memorandum on Religwus Expression in Publk Schools, Memorandum
lor the Sec.rt!lluy 0/EdllCfllion, Attorney Gene,1II (July 12, 1995)
. Secretary Riley, at the request ofPresident Clinton, distributed a statement of principles
addressing religious activity and expression in public schools on August lOt 1995. This
. statement ofprinciples, Religious Expression in Public Schools, was sent to eve!)' public
school superintendent, the leadership ofprivate elementary and secondsi)' schools,
national religious and school organization leadersbip, and all chief state school officers. .
All those receiving this statement of principles from Secretary Riley were encouraged to
share this information widely and in the most appropriate manner with their own school
community.
Following the development of Religious Expression in Public Schools, the Freedom
Forum First AmendmentCenter at Vanderbilt University and the National PTA jointly
wrote and published A Parent OS Guide to Religious ExpreSSion in the Public Schools.
based on the Department's statement ofprinciples. The Freedom Forum and Nationhl
PTA have printed and distributed 300,000 copies ofthis pamphlet.
After$e release of Religious ExpreSSion in Public, Schools, Thomas A. Shannon,
Executive Director ofthe National School Boards Association wrote to Secretary Riley
explaining the immediate impact that the release ofthis guidance had on inquiries and
litigation involving issues of religious expression. "In the last ten years we received
numerous inqUiries over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday on how schools can
best handle the~ events. This year, the number of calls bas dropped dramatically. We
believe this reduction ofconcein is a result ofthe help Uley received through the,
Guidelines...With the cooperation of parents. other citizens, and all interested 'associations
and agencies, we hope to spend more ofour tUne, money and energy on nnproving
education and less on costly litigation."
�DEC-10-1997
3.
18:40 FROM
U.S.DEd OS/EXEC SEC
IU
. Initiative: Keeping sclrODIs open lIlte
Progress:
The Department has developed a guidebook of best practices and ideas to start and
organize after-schooi programs. The publication, Keeping Schools Open as Community
Learning Centers, is ve:r:y popular and bas been requested by numerous organizations and
is often requested through the Department's 800 service request number.
The Department will be able to fund 300 after-school progT8IDS under the FY 1998
appropriation. We will collect data on the number of children served in .each of these
centers.. Right now we estimate that each of the 300 centers could possibly serve 100
children, or a total of 30.~ children served under this program.
The Vice-President and Secretary Riley alSo recently released a study of elementary and
middle-school parents on their need for after-school programs.
�DEC-10-1997
4.
18:40
FROM
U.S.ucd
~~/cXcL ~cL
IU
I
• .J.t.J,
Initiative: Technology-relJlted tIir~ctives
Progress:
According to the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics, 65% of
schpois and 14 pm:ent of classrooms are wired for the Internet. Updated data will be
available early in 1998. However, Quality Education Data (QED) reports that 72% of
schools and 29010 of classrooms have access. Clearly we are making progress through
NetDays and other activities. In additio~ we expect to see this number increase
sub~tially as schools apply for E-rate. discounts beginning in January 1998.
Other accomplishments:
The UParents Guide to·the Internet" \1(as released at the Internet Summit; December 2, by
the Vice President. Copies are available on-line on the Department's web site.
Approximately 200,000 copies ofthe guide win be distributed by the,Department's 800
number request servi~ Family Partnership for Learning members, and the Consumer
Information Center.
.
Directive on Federal Resources OnLine in Education. More than 30 agencies are
participating in the worlting group.and the pilot site will be unveiled in early 1998. The
Department ofEducation's web site alone gets over 6 million hits a month from over
300,000 computers.
c:...J..
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5.
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Iaitiative: PresidentiJJl directive to Secret4ry 0/EduClltion and Director 0/ the
.NllIiontzl Science Foundation tode'fleiop a strategy on Strengthening math lind science
edUl!lltion (March 1997)
Progress:
NSF and the Department ofEducation have produced an action strategy (executive
summary attached) for iniproving mathematics and science education in response to the
President's directive. The agencies plan to formally submit the strategy to the White
House within the next few weeks and to publicly release ,it shortly thereafter.
The action strategy identifies mathematics in grades 5-8 as a target for immediate
national efforts. It identifies three priorities for federal agency action: (1) assisting states
and districts and bigher e4ucation to upgrade teacher preparation and professional
development; (2) assisting states and school districts to select and implement bigh quality
curriculum materials, including educational technologies; and (3) building public support
and understanding of challenging mathematics. To address these priorities, the action
strategy lays out a coordina~ set offederal programmatic activities, including
Competitive planning grants to school districts to accelerate mathematics improvement in
the middle school years, a national convocation on middle school mathematics,and a
public tmderstanding and engagement initiative. The action strategy also lays out specific
challenges to federal agencies, K-12 educators, the higher education community.
professional organjzations and families.
In grades 5-8 there are appfoximately 13.5 million students, 20,000 teachers of
mathematics, and 34,000 schools, of which approximately 12,000 are high-poverty
.schools. The action strategy lays out a coordinated set of initiatives and activities, some
of which are intended to leverage change in virtually every state, district and school (e.g.,
a public unde.tstanding and engagement initiative, support for development ofvoluntary
national standards for the mathematical preparation of future teachers, and a ffcoI18ll.l:iters
report" guide to promising and exemplary programs and practices) and some of which are
more targeted (e.g. planning grants to accelerate mathematics improvement in the middle
school years targeted to districts with high-poverty middle schools).
For many of the items in the action strategy, impact will depend upon funding.' NSF and
the Department ofEclucation have each requested an additional $40 million for FY99 to
support the initiatives laid out in the action strategy.
Data will be available from the math and science NAEP, from the readministration of
TIMSS in 1999, and from the voluntary national mathematics test.
�DEC-10-199'7
6.
18:41
FROM
U.::'.Ut:.d
uS/I:::.At:.~ ::leI....
IU
Initiative: Directive onflXingjtdUng schools (October 1997)
Progress:
On October 28~ 1997, President Clinton gave the Secretary of Education 90 days to
produce a guide on how to turn around low-performing schools. This guide will help
states, districts. schools, and entire school communities identify their challenges, .learn .
how others have tackled these issues, implement short- and long-term plans, and
effectively use existing federal funds for school improvement and refonn efforts. The
guide will include examples from al1 types of public schools, from rural to urban, and
elementary to secondary schools. Through these examples, the guide will illustrate how
individual schools and communities have overcome challenges and made changes to
transform their schools into learning environments that support high academic
achievement.
.
White House staff and members ofthe education advocacy community have provided
input on how best to make this guide effective. The Office ofEducational Rese8ICh and
Improvement has solicited examples of turned around schools from its Regional
Educational LaboratorieS. We will m~t with focus groups of superintendents, principals,
. teachers. students, and parents to discuss the draft guide in early January. By the end of
January 1998, the Department will make the guide available in print and on the .
Department's Internet web page.
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1 tl : 41
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Initiative: -Dinctive Oil Improved Teaching
Prognss:
In response to the President's Directive, we developed "Excellence and AccoUntability in
Teaching: A Guide to U.S. Department of Education Programs and Resources" and
. distributed it by mailing it to the Chief State School Officers and to approximately 600
individuals and organiZlltions interested in teacher quality issues; by posting it on our web
.site; by advertising it at a recent Satellite Town Meeting; by distributing the guide at
conferences such as the Improving America's Schools conferences; and by highlightiD.g it
in ED Initiatives, the Department's on-line newsletter that is e-mailed to interested
subscribers.
We will soon release a publication that describes the most promising practices in teacher
recruitment, preparation, initial licensing, ongoing professional development, and teacher
recognition and accountability measures in teaching. In addition, the Department v,ill
issue a biennial report on teacher quality beginning next year to report on our progress as
aNatio~.
.
.
The Department has taken a number ofother steps to improve teacher quality.
-We have requested 521 million per year for the next five years for the National Board
for Professional Teaching Standards to complete the development of their assessments
and to assist highly accomplished teachers in becomiDg board certified. (We received
$18.5 million for FY 1998.)
·.Through the Office ofEducational Research and Improvement, we have funded two new
centers: a $7.5 million Cenrer for the Study ofTeaching and Policy to serve as a resource
to policymakers by examining policies around teacher quality; and a $23 million
Partnership for &cellence and AccounJability in Teaching that will launch a
comprehensive national effort to support and sustain long-term improvements in teaching
and learning.
-Legislatively we are addressing teacher quality through Title v of the Higher Education
Act Our new vision for Title V has two goals: the recruitment, preparation, and retention
ofdiverse and excellent teachers for underserved areas; and the identification and
.aggressive dissemination ofthe highest quality teacher preparation designed to prepare
teachers to work effectively in high-poverty urban and rural schools.
-We are cmrently accepting applications (due January 15) for the second National
Awards Programfor Model Professional Development, which identifies and disseminates
the work ofexemplary schools and districts that have made the link between profesSional
develoPIIlent and improved stu.dent achievement. Every'school in the nation received a
postcard providing them with information about applying for the awards program..
�. DEC-10-1997
8.
18:42
FROM
U.S.DEd dS/EXI!:L ~I::.L
IU
Initiative: T,IUIIU:JI
Progress:
The School Truancy Manual was released in June 1996. It was distributed to every
school district in the country and has been mailed to 5l~71 persons who requested
copies. A copy was also placed on the Safe and Drug-Free SChools web site. In addition
to sending every school district a copy ofthe manual, the Department of Education and
the Dep8l1ment ofJustice developed a training program for school districts and
.communities interested in developing programs to deal more effectively with truants and
other youth who were considered to be out ofthe educational mainstream. While there is
no official ~ anecdotal evidence indicates that those school districts that have
developed truancy prevention programs patterned after models identified by The
Dep8l1ment and Justice have witnessed an increase in school attendance and a decrease
in daytime juvenile crime.
�IU
9.
Initiative: Charter Schools
Progress: '
There were about 130 charter schools operating, most in California and Arizona. when
the A~on began to support charter schools pursuant to the enactment of the
Improving America's Schools 'Act of 1994. Nearly all of the charter schools approved
subsequently. and a handful of the original 130. have received federal start-up support.
Of more than S50 charter schools operating at the end of the 1996--1997 school year, 421
, received federal support..
'
Most estimates show that more than 800 charter schools are operating at the beginning of
the 1997-1998 sChool year, and that more than 900 will be operating by the end of the
academic year. The Administration will support more than 800 ofthese schools. The
Deparlment's National Study of Charter Schools shows the average size ofthese schools
to be 200 students. Multiplying 200 students by more than 800 charter schools yields' a
figure ofmore than 160,000 students in charter schools. The total number ofoperating
charter schools receiving federal start~up ~ds in. 199~ 1997, and the estimated' nwnber
for 1997~1998, is shoVtu by state below.
'
1996:1997
AK
AZ
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
III
IL
KS
LA
MA
MI
MN
NJ .
NM
NC
OR
PA
SC
TX
WI
PR
TOTALS
1997..1998
6
67
34
39
12
5
4
40
21
2
8
1
15
110
60
51
12
7
20
75
30
2
15
10
15
50
90
.30
35
1
6
25
33
11
14
3
34
6
0
0
19
17 .
8
421/ .
SO
20
.6
12
75
,25
18
834
,
)
�ow
The Admi.nistration supported approximately 76% ofthe charter schools operating at the
end ofthe 1996--1997 school year. In states like 'Florida, North Carolina, and Texas all
but a handful ofschools are being funded. It is estimated that the percentage of charter
schools supported by the Administration will increase ~o nearly 85% by the end ofthe '
1997-1998 aCademic year.
It is important to remember that most of these schools have been operational for only a
year or two. True changes in achievement won't be measw-able until 1999 at th~earliest.
Individual states have done some assessments. but few have compared charter schools to
other schools with a similar student body. The Department-sponsored National Study of
Charter Schools is collecting student achievement data in 93 charter schools and a smaller
number ofcomparison schools. Students will be tested at three points in ·time to allow an
analysis ofachievement growth as well as initial achievement level. Results from this
srudywill not be available for another two years.
Twenty-nine states. District of Columb~ and Puerto Rico have charter school legislation.
These states are: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas. California. Colorado, Connecticut, ,
Delaware, Florida, Georgia. Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts. ' .
Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico,
North Carolina.. Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island. South Carolina. Texas, WisConsin,
and Wyoming.
NOTE: Oregon school districts have authority under the 21st Century Schools Act to
C$lblish schools, inCluding charter schools, but Oregon dOes not have specific charter
school legislation.
Six states - Arizona (53.000,000), Georgia ($195,000), Louisiana (53,000,000),
Minnesota (5500,000). Pennsylvania (52,3.00,000), and Ohio (51)00,000) - provide a
total of 510,195,000 in start-up support. The Department has provid~ or is in the
process ofdistributing, 5142 million (includes FY 1998 appropriation) in start-up funds.
This is 93% of the start-up funds available to charter schools frOm federal or state
sources.
Based on the funding requests by states that have competed for charter'schools grants,
The Department has met approximately 70010 ofthe estimated need for start-up funding
for charter schools. These federal fimds represent only about 6% ofthe total operating
costs for charter schools.
It is impossible to determine an accurate percentage of charter schools that have received
information and assistance from the Department. However, we estimate that 95-100% of
charter schools have received this assistance in some form.
are
A tot8I of 34,700 people have visited the charter school web site. Many
repeat
visitors. The site has had 833~037 hits since April 15, 1997. While it is impossible to tell
�,.....
.
'
how many of these users are operating charter schools, .approXimately 88% of end users
proceed directly to pages Viith specific technical assistance information. Therefore an
estimate of 1,500 operators or others involved in running charter schools'per week is not
unreasonable. Since April 15, 1997, 171 operators and developers have registered on the
web site and taken advantage ofthe site's school profile service and created web-based
profiles of their schools. And 91 operators have submitted specific technical assistance
questions, which have been answered individually.
The nepart:JD.ent's 1997 National Charter Schools Conference was the largest national .
gathering ofcharter schools ever held. Approximately 800 people attended this three-day
conference in Washington. DC. 'Representatives from every charter school in, the coUntry
were invited. Attendees had opportunities to learn about and provide feedback on federal
programs. learn from expertS on key issues, share their own strategies for overcoming
common obstacle~ and network with colleagues.
A preliminary review ofthe conference evaluations indicate a high level ofparticipant
satisfaction. Transcripts ofkey sessions will be available on the Charter Schools web
site, and Department staff are meeting to determine how to address key questions raised
regarding federal programs affecting charter schools.
Nearly all charter schools bave access to information and assistance through the Charter
School web site, the Department's web site, 1-800-USA-LEARN, the Department's
Comprehensive Technical Assistance Centers, and other Department technical ,assistance
providers.
�DEC-10-1997
10.
18:43
FROM
U.S.DEd OS/EXI:.C
~I:.l..
--
IU
Initiative: Clllj'ews
Progress:
This bas been primarily a Department ofJustice initiative. However, information
collected by the Department indicates that many cities are using daytime and nighttime
youth curfews to reduce truancy, and crime. A recent smvey released by the U.S.
Conference ofMayors (December 1997) found that 276 of347 responding cities had a
nighttime cuifew. Seventy-six had a daytime curfew as well. This-is an increase over the
findings in a similar survey in 1995, when more cities responded but fewer said they were
using curfews. In that survey, 270 of 387 cities said they bad a nighttime curfew. The
1997 survey alsO noted that 56 percent of citi~ or 154, had curfews for at least 10 years. '
Officials in half ofthose cities said juvenile crime had dropped since the curfew was
imposed; 11 percent say the number ofjuvenile crimes has remained. steady; and 10
percent witnessed an increase in juvenile-related Crime.
Some cities reported dramatic decreases in daytime juvenile crime. In Califomi~ of 72
surveyed cities, 53 percent reported that the decreases in juvenile crime were in part a
result of the imposition ofa curfew law. ,A separate study by the ~s Angeles Police
'Department credited the city's 1995 anti-truancy law'with a 20 percent to 4Spercent drop
in daytime burglaries, shoplifting and car break-ins. San Jose has seen a 23 percent drop
in the number ofchildren who are victims ofcrime while Inglewood reported a 40
percent reduction in juvenile offenders since 1994, when it imposed curfews ofl0 p.m.
on weeknights and 11 p.m. on weekends.
�DEC-10-1997
18:44
FROM
U.~.Utd U~/tXtL oe~
IU
DRAFT;. 11/2419'
AN ACTION STRATEGY
FOR IMPROVING ACWEVEMENT IN
MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On March 6, 1997, the President issued a memorandum (Appendix 1) .directing the .
Secretary ofEducation and the Director of the National Science Foundation to form an
interagency working group to develop an action strategy for using Federal resources to
assist States and local school systems in preparing students to meet challenging
mathematics standards in the eighth grade, and for invol~g the mathematical, scientific.
and technical communities in support of those efforts.
•
The Presidential directive specified that the action strategy include recommendations for the
use of Federal resources to help States, local school districts. and schools improve
.
teaching, upgrade cuniculum.; mtegrate technology and high-quality instructional materials
into the classroom. and motivate students to help them understand how matheniatical
conceptS are applied in today's global workplace. The directive called· for the interagency
group to review the status of improvements in mathematics education and identify critical
needs, drawing on research and input from educators and professional organizations. In
. addition. it called for the working group to review how Federal resources and.partnerships
with other ~aniiations can help improve student achievement in science.
The request was based, in pan, on results of the ThiId International Science and .
Mathematics Study (llMSS), which demonstrated a clear need to focus on improving
mathematics achievement in grades 5-8. The President's proposed voluntary national test
in mathematics at grade 8 provided an additional stimulus. The action strategy targets
mathematics in grades 5-8, building on a strong foundation of activity underway actoss the
country to improve elementary and secondary mathematics and science education.
'The action Strategy:
• Challenges the Department of Education and the National Science Foundation to work
together' more closely and to partner with other Federal agencies and with State and
local educational agencies to strengthen the impact of Fedenil inves~nts· in
mathematics and science education.
• Challenges State and local-level school superintendents, mathematics supervisors,
school boards, principals. and other educators to take a fresh~ critical look at curricula.
insttuctional materials. and professional development strategies (and the use of Federal
resources in these areas) in light ofTIMSS and other recent research results and to be
prepared. as needed, to reformulate current approaches so as to improve effectiveness.
• Challenges the Nation's colleges and universities to develop rigorous new programs for
teacher ~on, stressing both subject matter expertise and pedagogical mastery.
These instimbons will also need to take a far more active role in enhancing the skills .
and knowledge of today's teachers. working closely, with States, local school districts,
and schools in the process.
.
ES-l
�IW
.,
DRAFT;
--_.
11/24/97
• Challenges professional organizations in mathemati~ science. engineering, and
technology to join with schools, parents. students. community organizations. and
business and indusrry in developing a strong network of local partnerShips aimed at
nlising student achievement.
• Olallenges u.s. families to provide 'strong suppon and encouragement for their
,
children to reach high standards of achievement in mathematics and science.
Based on· the Federal role in improving achievement in K-12 education, the priorities of the
.
.
action strategy focus Federal investment on:
• Assisting States,localschool districts, and the Nation's colleges and universities to
provide the skills and knowledge that equip teachers in grades 5-8 to teach challenging
mathematics content in effective ways, with bighexpectations for their students;
• Assisting States and local school districts to select ~d implement high-quality.
standards-based curricula and instructional materials. including making effective use of
educational technologies; and
• Building public understanding ofchallenging mathematics in grades 5-8, and gaining
public suppon for raising student achievement toward high standards.
.
,
The ,bulk of the Federal resources for improvement in K-12 mathematics and science
.
education flows from the programs of the Department of Education and the National
Science Foundation. A coherent approach to strengthebingthe impact of Federal resources .
used to improve mathematics achievement in grades 5-8 must begin with these programs.
Drawing on the resources of other Federal agencies in an effective manner can then follow.
The Department of Education and the National Science Foundation plan a set of joint
activities that are the synergy-producing elements of the action strategy. These activities
include:
• Competitive planning grants to accelerate the strategic use of resources in improving
achievement in mathematics;
• A National Convocation on middle school mathematics that will initiate an on-going
dialogue among all stakeholders;'.
.
• The Public Understanding and Engagement Mathematics Initiative, a mechanism to
involve the public more c:litectly in mathematics education;
• Coordinated research and informational activities; and
• Systematic involvement of o~r agencies.
·Other elements of the action strategy draw on the individual strengths of Federal agency
programs aimed at improving mathematics education.
,
The time is ripe for a concerted effort to improve the achievement of U.S. students in
mathematics and science. By focusing our immediate attention on improving performance
for middle school mathematics. we will be able to give local. State. and Federal educational
'agencies a target for action that is substantive. timely. and sufficiently targeted that it is
reasonable to anticipate progress. As our effort to address this area of greatest concern gels
underway, we Can develop models for future action across disciplines and grades.
-~
�DEC-10-1997
,
18:45
FROM
U.S.DEd OS/EXEC SEC
IU
DRAFT; 11124/97
But the action strategy must be only the beginning of tbeeffon. The interagency
cooperation must continue and move to the substantive agenda of implementation. The
Department of Education and the National Science Foundation are committed to meeting the
. cballenge of continuing cooperation so that their programs work in concert. 1be two
agencies will develop appropriate mechanisms to keep 9ther agencies and the professional
scientists. mathematicians and engineers with whom they work actively involved in .
improving achievement in mathematics and science education. Perllaps most importantly.
they will keep the goal of raising lhe achievement of all American smcientS in mathematics
and science at the forefront of their attention.
.
.
,.
�
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
Kendra Brooks - Subject Series
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Domestic Policy Council
Kendra Brooks
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
<a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/36031" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="https://catalog.archives.gov/id/647992" target="_blank">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Description
An account of the resource
The Kendra Brooks Subject Files contain correspondence, reports, articles, memos, and various printed material. Other documents include background information for education events and meetings. The files include material pertaining to charter schools, national testing, SAT preparation, school safety, school modernization/construction, affirmative action, Blue Ribbon Schools, class–size reduction, teacher quality, Limited English Proficiency (LEP), the White House Initiative on Education Excellence for Hispanic Americans, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Publisher
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William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Extent
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157 folders in 16 boxes
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
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Paper
Dublin Core
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Title
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[Education - Accomplishments]
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Domestic Policy Council
Kendra Brooks
Subject Files
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Box 1
<a href="http://clintonlibrary.gov/assets/Documents/Finding-Aids/Systematic/KendraBrookssubjectfile.pdf" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="https://catalog.archives.gov/id/647992" target="_blank">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Format
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Adobe Acrobat Document
Publisher
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Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
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Reproduction-Reference
Date Created
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1/17/2012
Source
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647992-education-accomplishments.pdf
647992