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

   FOR RELEASE                     Contact:  Melinda Kitchell Malico    October 2, 1995                                    (202) 401-1008

These new regional assistance centers will provide streamlined assistance to schools, school districts and states using federal education resources. Until now, assistance was provided by 48 different centers. The new centers will replace existing bilingual, Indian, and migrant education centers, and other assistance centers funded by Title I and the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act.

"Bringing all this assistance under one roof in each region will mean better service," Riley said. "Schools, districts and states will be able to call one place and get help with all federal education programs.

"These new centers will provide a much more coordinated network of help for schools and improve services to teachers, administrators, support staff and others who help children learn."

The Clinton administration requested $55 million to complete a transition to the new regional assistance centers in fiscal year 1996, but the U.S. House of Representatives has proposed to cut all funding for the effort. In fiscal year 1995, a $44.5 million appropriation was cut to $29.6 million under the rescissions package. By statute, the bulk of this year's funding is being used to phase out the fragmented centers.

If appropriations are adequate, the centers are to be funded for a five-year period beginning October 1, 1995. Following adoption of the rescissions legislation, initial funding is $100,000 for each center. The 15 centers are to be located in Alaska, California, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey (serves Florida and other areas) New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Center staff will provide support, training, and other help to local school districts, schools, tribes and other grant recipients to improve curricula, instruction, assessments, teacher professional development, and program evaluation. Centers will be resources for print, video and audio materials that can be used by teachers, parents and students to improve teaching and learning. To meet the goals of improved academic achievement for all students, the centers will provide help to expand use of educational technology, increase parental involvement in schools, provide a safe and drug-free environment and better teach at-risk populations, including those with limited English skills and students in urban and rural communities.

The new comprehensive centers also will be key players in building an emerging system of federally supported providers of information and assistance on education.

The centers will also coordinate services and share information with the Education Department's regional educational laboratories, the Eisenhower regional consortia, research and development centers, and the National Diffusion Network, thus forming a network of services.

The role of the 15 comprehensive education centers in this information and assistance system is to assist in meeting the needs of disadvantaged children served under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

The centers are authorized under Title XIII of the Improving America's Schools Act.