Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 5.djvu/30

 108 STAT. 3520 PUBLIC LAW 103-382—OCT. 20, 1994 "(2) the most urgent need for educational improvement is in schools with high concentrations of children from lowincome families and achieving the National Education Goals will not be possible without substantial improvement in such schools; "(3) educational needs are particularly great for low-achieving children in our Nation's highest-poverty schools, children with limited English proficiency, children of migrant workers, children with disabilities, Indian children, children who are neglected or delinquent, and young children and their parents who are in need of family-literacy services; "(4) while title I and other programs funded under this Act contribute to narrowing the achievement gap between children in high-poverty and low-poverty schools, such programs need to become even more effective in improving schools in order to enable all children to achieve high standards; and "(5) in order for all students to master challenging standards in core academic subjects as described in the third National Education Goal described in section 102(3) of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, students and schools will need to maximize the time spent on teaching and learning the core academic subjects. "(c) WHAT HAS BEEN LEARNED SINCE 1988.— To enable schools to provide all children a high-quality education, this title builds upon the following learned information: "(1) All children can master challenging content and complex problem-solving skills. Research clearly shows that children, including low-achieving children, can succeed when expectations are high and all children are given the opportunity to learn challenging material. "(2) Conditions outside the classroom such as hunger, unsafe living conditions, homelessness, unemployment, violence, inadequate health care, child abuse, and drug and alcohol abuse can adversely affect children's academic achievement and must be addressed through the coordination of services, such as health and social services, in order for the Nation to meet the National Education Goals. "(3) Use of low-level tests that are not aligned with schools' curricula fails to provide adequate information about what children know and can do and encourages curricula and instruction that focus on the low-level skills measured by such tests. "(4) Resources are more effective when resources are used to ensure that children have full access to effective high-quality regular school programs and receive supplemental help through extended-time activities. "(5) Intensive and sustained professional development for teachers and other school staff, focused on teaching and learning and on helping children attain high standards, is too often not provided. "(6) Insufficient attention and resources are directed toward the effective use of technology in schools and the role technology can play in professional development and improved teaching and learning. "(7) All parents can contribute to their children's success by helping at home and becoming partners with teachers so that children can achieve high standards.

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