Center Helps States Raise Education Standards
An outgrowth of the 1996 National Education Summit, Achieve is a resource center designed to assist state and business leaders working to improve academic standards and performance.
The group plans to: (1) prepare an annual report to track progress on achieving the goals outlined at the Summit; (2) establish and manage an electronic clearinghouse on academic standards, assessment tools and accountability systems used by various states and countries; (3) provide a benchmarking program to compare standards and tools among states; and (4) offer technical support to states trying to raise standards via technology.
Achieve already has pledges of $5 million from corporations and foundations, including AT&T, BellSouth, Kodak, IBM and The Pew Charitable Trusts. At least 30 states have submitted information to be listed in the clearinghouse, which will be accessible to the public. National Governors' Association, Washington, DC, (202) 624-5352.