At the request of the National Education Goals Panel, Public Agenda -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization -- analyzed recent public opinion research on education and the public schools, reviewing surveys conducted by a variety of respected national organizations and by Public Agenda itself. In doing so, we have made a special attempt to locate and analyze recent opinion data on the eight national goals developed under the auspices of President Bush, President Clinton and the nation's Governors. These are: helping children start school ready to learn, increasing the school completion rate, enhancing student achievement and raising academic standards, increasing opportunities for teacher education and professional development, improving math and science education, increasing the adult literacy rate and encouraging lifelong learning, making schools safe, disciplined and drug-free, and increasing parental participation.

The 1999 report of the National Education Goals Panel, created in 1990, to show how much progress the nation and the states have made toward those Goals. Sections include: The National Education Goals; summary of progress to date; national progress; state progress toward the 8 goals: (1) ready to learn; (2) school completion; (3) student achievement and citizenship; (4) teacher education and professional development; (5) mathematics and science; (6) adult literacy and lifelong learning; (7) safe, disciplined, and alcohol- and drug-free schools; and (8) parental participation. Sources for the national and state indicators.

This report, ninth in a series, is designed to indicate progress made by the United States toward the eight National Education Goals. Following a statement of the eight Goals, part 1 explains the nature and purposes of the Goals. Part 2, "Summary of Progress to Date," evaluates national and state progress made toward these goals since 1990, the year they were established, placing emphasis on state improvement over time. Part 3 summarizes national progress, and part 4 summarizes state progress for each goal for the 34 state indicators. Much has been accomplished, but progress toward the Goals has not been uniform across the Goals or across the states. Much more must be done, particularly with regard to teacher education and professional development, mathematics and science achievement, the reduction of drug and alcohol use, and the promotion of safe and orderly schools. Three appendixes contain technical notes and sources for national and state indicators and acknowledgments. (Sld).