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

FOR RELEASE: January 5, 2001	Contact:         Melinda Kitchell Malico (202) 401-1008

U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley today announced his selection of Joseph F. Johnson of Austin, Texas as director of the federal Title I Program.

The $8.6 billion Title I Program -- the largest federal K-12 education program -- helps improve the education of some 11 million children who attend 45,000 schools with high concentrations of poverty. The program is aligned with state and local efforts to raise standards and improve teaching and learning among disadvantaged children.

"Joe Johnson has devoted his career to the mission of serving children," Riley said. "We welcome Joe and his track record of substantially improving academic performance among at-risk students, running efficient and effective programs, and better coordinating federal programs to reduce fragmentation and support schoolwide improvement."

"Title I is the most important federal K-12 education program," said Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Mike Cohen. "It is helping states raise standards, strengthen accountability for results, and give schools flexibility in using federal resources. Joe will be an outstanding leader for this program, and will help educators nationwide increase school effectiveness."

In addition to Title I, Johnson will run the Even Start family literacy program and the Stewart McKinney Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program.

Since 1995, Johnson has served as program director for district support and services at the Charles A. Dana Center, University of Texas at Austin. As director, he guided research and technical assistance designed to promote the best practices for improving academic achievement in schools and districts, especially those serving low-income communities. Johnson guided the U.S. Department of Education-funded study Hope for Urban Education, which highlighted successful practices in high achieving, high-poverty schools across the country. During his tenure, Johnson also helped initiate and organized the Education Improvement Network, a group of 10 Texas school districts that focused on reaching specific, challenging academic targets for diverse populations of students.

From 1988-1995, Johnson led a successful statewide effort to raise standards, improve achievement and increase accountability in Texas? Title I-supported schools. He administered a $700 million program budget, encompassing Title I, programs for homeless children and youth, and special education programs.

Johnson has advised numerous education organizations, including the Annenburg Institute, the Public Education Network, the Education Commission of the States, and others. He also serves on several education boards, including the Independent Review Panel of both the National Assessment of Title I and the National Assessment of Federal Education Programs.

He earned a bachelor of science in elementary education and special education at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh in 1979, a master of arts in educational administration and special education from San Diego State University, Calif., in 1982, and a doctorate in educational administration at the University of Texas at Austin in 1992.

Johnson will take over for departing Title I Director Mary Jean LeTendre, who worked with Cohen to select the new director.

Johnson is married and has two children.

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