Urging Congress to Support America's Education Priorities

Urging Congress to Support America's Education Priorities

Today, the White House will call on Congress to complete its work and send President Clinton a fiscally responsible budget that invests in America's key priorities -- especially the education of our children. In a speech at the National Press Club, White House Chief of Staff John Podesta will release a new Department of Education report demonstrating how federal support for after-school and summer school programs is enabling communities to create high-quality extended learning opportunities that improve academic achievement while keeping kids safe. He also will urge Congress to fund America's education priorities and heed the mounting evidence that the Clinton-Gore Administration's strategy of investing more in our schools and demanding more from them is making a positive difference for our children. To date, Congress has not produced a budget that: offers tax cuts and a school renovation initiative to help communities modernize crumbling schools; adequately funds after-school programs; reduces class sizes in the early grades; strengthens accountability for fixing failing schools; and helps put a qualified teacher in every classroom.

PROVIDING SUPERVISION AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT FOR "LATCH-KEY" KIDS. Under the leadership of President Clinton and Vice President Gore, federal funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers has increased from a $1 million demonstration program in 1997 to a $453 million initiative in 2000, with 3,600 schools currently providing extended learning opportunities for 650,000 students. However, the demand for high quality after-school and summer opportunities continues to outpace available resources, and last year only one in seven 21st Century Community Learning Center applications could be funded. Today, the White House will reiterate President Clinton's request for $1 billion in FY 2001 to more than triple the number of students benefiting from these programs, helping to provide after-school opportunities for more than one quarter of the nation's 8 million "latch-key" kids. The report released today outlines the progress being made in over 900 communities across the nation in providing safe and nurturing alternatives for children in the afternoon hours when they are most likely to commit or be the victims of crime. In addition to providing a safe haven for "latch-key" kids, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers provide students with access to homework centers, tutors, and cultural and recreational activities -- enabling students to boost their academic achievement and social skills. The findings highlighted by the Department's report include:

REPUBLICAN BUDGET IGNORES AMERICA'S EDUCATION PRIORITIES. In February, President Clinton and Vice President Gore sent Congress a balanced and fiscally responsible budget that makes investments in key education initiatives. However, Congress still has not completed an education budget, and is now neglecting America's priorities and loading spending bills with election-year, earmarked projects for special interests. The Republican budget provides:



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What's New Archives 1997-1999

What's New Archives: 1994-1996

Presidential Webcast: Meeting the Challenge of Global Warming

President Clinton Joins International Religious and Domestic Aids Policy Leaders to Mark World Aids Day

Urging Congress to Keep its Commitment and Complete this Year's Education Budget

To Implement Title V of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 and to Modify the Generalized System of Preferences

Preserving America's Coral Reefs

Human Rights Day: The Eleanor Roosevelt Award and The Presidential Medal of Freedom

President Clinton Launches New Effort to Increase Immunization Rates Among Children

President Clinton and Vice President Gore: Restoring an American Natural Treasure

Progress in Efforts to Combat International Crime

President Clinton's New Markets Initiative: Revitalizing America's Underserved Communities

President Clinton, Vice President Gore, and Congressional Democrats Win a Landmark Budget

Announcing Welfare Reform Achievements and Budget Wins for America's Families

President Clinton Issues Strong New Consumer Protections to Ensure the Privacy of Medical Records

Enacting a Budget that Invests in Education, Health Care, and America'

President Clinton Appoints Roger Gregory to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

President Clinton Announces New Steps to Improve Nutrition and Education for Children in Developing Countries

The United States on Track to Pay Off the Debt by End of the Decade

President Clinton: Strengthening the Federal Government-University Research Partnership

Keeping the Heat and Lights On During Unusually Cold Weather


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