More Resources Strategic Plan, 2002-2007

During a department-wide staff meeting in Washington, D.C. today, U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige released his five-year strategic plan for the Department of Education, setting six ambitious goals for the agency and for the nation.

"This plan is a promise to our children and their parents and to everyone seeking higher education," Paige said. "We promise to improve the quality of education and to raise our expectations of what students can accomplish. More than ever, education is a national priority, and this department is going to make it a source of national pride. We will leave no student behind."

The strategic plan is an important milestone in the management improvement process launched by Paige almost a year ago. It marks the beginning of a coordinated department effort to achieve measurable results for students. The strategic plan combines elements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 with the President's Management Agenda. The plan sets six strategic goals for the agency. These goals are:

1. Create a Culture of Achievement: Create a culture of achievement throughout the nation's education system by effectively implementing the new law, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and by basing all federal education programs on its principles: accountability, flexibility, expanded parental options and doing what works.

2. Improve Student Achievement: Improve student achievement for all groups of students by putting reading first, expanding high-quality mathematics and science teaching, reforming high schools, and boosting teacher and principal quality, thereby closing the achievement gap.

3. Develop Safe Schools and Strong Character: Establish disciplined and drug-free education environments that foster the development of good character and citizenship.

4. Transform Education into an Evidence-based Field: Strengthen the quality of education research.

5. Enhance the Quality of and Access to Postsecondary and Adult Education: Increase opportunities for students and the effectiveness of institutions.

6. Establish Management Excellence: Create a culture of accountability throughout the Department of Education.

For each of these six goals, the plan outlines specific objectives, performance measures and targets. For example, under the objective outlined in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 to ensure that all students read on grade level by the third grade, the department aims to help all students, in particular all major subgroups of students, to significantly increase their reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Each office within the department is developing action steps linked to the strategic plan. These action steps will be tracked and will be reported in the department's annual performance plan, required by the Government Performance and Results Act. The performance plan will be submitted to Congress March 29. The department is also revamping its employee appraisal system to align individual performance with the strategic plan, and is developing a recognition program for outstanding performance linked to the strategic goals and objectives.

"We take responsibility for making good on these promises—the goals and objectives in this strategic plan. But we also know that we cannot achieve these ends alone," Secretary Paige said. "Our partners at the state and local levels; educators in schools, colleges and literacy programs; parents and even students themselves all have essential roles to play, roles just as important-if not more important-than our role."

The department's Strategic Plan for 2002-2007 is available online at www.ed.gov/pubs/stratplan2002-07/index.html. Printed copies will be available from 1-877-4-ED-PUBS by the end of March.

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