A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Introduction: Teaching--A National Priority

In President Clinton's 1997 State of the Union address, he made his top priority improving education in America. As a result, the U.S. Department of Education is implementing a number of new initiatives that will enhance the nation's efforts to improve student achievement. These initiatives are summarized on the following pages.

Educators, policy-makers, and legislators have become increasingly aware that our nation's goals for student learning depend on high-quality teaching in all our schools. As states and local communities focus on raising standards for students, ensuring excellence in teaching is the necessary next step. If all children are to learn to high standards, then all educators need the capacity and support to teach to those high standards.

No success can come from efforts to increase student achievement without caring and competent teachers in our classrooms. Higher standards, stronger accountability systems, increased use of technology, and smaller classes – all rely on the presence of an excellent teaching corps.

For this reason, one of the Department's priorities is ensuring that there is a talented, dedicated, and well-prepared teacher in every classroom in the nation.

The highest academic standards, the best facilities, the strongest accountability measures, and the latest technology will do little good if we do not have a teaching force of the highest quality.

For this reason, one of the Department's priorities is ensuring that there is a talented, dedicated, and well-prepared teacher every classroom in the nation.
-###-

[ Foreword ]

[ The Challenge ]