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

The Seven Priorities
of the U.S. Department
of Education

Working Document
July 28, 1997

Table of Contents

Section II: Overview of the Seven Priorities

• An Historical Perspective
• Focusing on Improving Results: Priorities One Through Three -- Reading, Mathematics and Access to College
• Key Strategies for Reaching those Results: Priorities Four Through Seven
• Ensuring Equity and Excellence for All Students

• Priority One: Reading Independently and Well by the End of Third Grade
  • Importance of Priority One
  • Strategy for Supporting Priority One
  • Step 1: The America Reads Challenge
  • Step 2: Research, Development and Dissemination of Information
  • Step 3: New Voluntary National Test of Fourth Grade Reading in English

• Priority Two: Mastering Challenging Mathematics, Including the Foundations of Algebra and Geometry, by the End of Eighth Grade 11
  • Importance of Priority Two
  • Strategy for Supporting Priority Two
  • Step 1: Providing the Opportunity to Master More Rigorous Mathematics
  • Step 2: New Voluntary National Test of Eighth Grade Mathematics

• Priority Three: By 18 Years of Age, Being Prepared For and Able to Afford College
  • Importance of Priority Three
  • Strategy for Supporting Priority Three
  • Step 1: Helping Students and Families Pay for College
  • Step 2: Changing the Ethic about Postsecondary Education: Think College Early

• Priority Four: All States and Their Schools Will Have Challenging and Clear Standards of Achievement and Accountability for All Children and Effective Strategies for Reaching Those Standards
  • Importance of Priority Four
  • Progress in Raising Standards Across America
  • The Challenges Ahead
  • Strategy for Supporting Priority Four

• Priority Five: A Talented, Dedicated and Well-Prepared Teacher in Every Classroom
  • Importance of Priority Five
  • Strategy for Supporting Priority Five
  • Step 1: Identifying Critical Areas Affecting Teacher Quality
  • Step 2: Identifying How the Department Can Support Priority Five

• Priority Six: Every Classroom will be Connected to the Internet by the Year 2000 and All Students will be Technologically Literate
  • Importance of Priority Six
  • Strategy for Supporting Priority Six
  • Step 1: Four Major Pillars to Guide the Technology Literacy Agenda
  • Step 2: Identifying Department Initiatives

• Priority Seven: Every School Will Be Strong, Safe, Drug-Free and Disciplined
  • Importance of Priority Seven
  • Importance of School Construction
  • Strategy for Supporting School Construction
  • Importance of Safe and Drug-Free Schools
  • Strategy for Supporting Safe and Drug-Free Schools
  • Importance of Choice and Charter Schools
  • Strategy for Supporting Charter Schools

Appendix A

PDF Version (120 K)
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Your comments on this document are invited, please send them to 7priorities@ed.gov.

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