Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 1.djvu/157

 PUBLIC LAW 103-227—MAR. 31, 1994 108 STAT. 131 (ii) the gap in high school graduation rates between American students from minority backgrounds and their non-minority counterparts will be eliminated. (3) STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND CITIZENSHIP.— (A) By the year 2000, all students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter including English, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, and geography, and every school in America will ensure that all students learn to use their minds well, so they may be prepared for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment in our Nation's modern economy. (B) The objectives for this goal are that— (i) the academic performance of all students at the elementary and secondary level will increase significantly in every quartile, and the distribution of minority students in each quartile will more closely reflect the student population as a whole; (ii) the percentage of all students who demonstrate the ability to reason, solve problems, apply knowledge, and write and communicate effectively will increase substantially; (iii) all students will be involved in activities that promote and demonstrate good citizenship, good health, community service, and personal responsibility; (iv) all students will have access to physical education and health education to ensure they are healthy and fit; (v) the percentage of all students who are competent in more than one language will substantially increase; and (vi) all students will be knowledgeable about the diverse cultural heritage of this Nation and about the world community. (4) TEACHER EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOP- MENT.— (A) By the year 2000, the Nation's teaching force will have access to programs for the continued improvement of their professional skills and the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to instruct and prepare all American students for the next century. (B) The objectives for this goal are that— (i) all teachers will have access to preservice teacher education and continuing professional development activities that will provide such teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to teach to an increasingly diverse student population with a variety of educational, social, and health needs; (ii) all teachers will have continuing opportunities to acquire additional knowledge and skills needed to teach challenging subject matter and to use emerging new methods, forms of assessment, and technologies; (iii) States and school districts will create integrated strategies to attract, recruit, prepare, retrain, and support the continued professional development of teachers, administrators, and other educators, so that there is a highly talented work force of professional educators to teach challenging subject matter; and

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