The American people have always recognized that education is one of the
soundest investments they can make. The dividends are reflected in every
dimension of our national life--from the strength of our economy and
national security to the vitality of our music, art, and literature. Among
the accomplishments that have given me the most satisfaction over the last
four years are the contributions that my Administration has been able to
make to the well-being of students and educators throughout the country.
This Administration has collaborated successfully with the Congress on
landmark education legislation. Working with the Congressional leadership,
my Administration spotlighted the importance of education by creating a new
Department of Education. The Department has given education a stronger
voice at the Federal level, while at the same time reserving the actual
control and operation of education to states, localities, and private
institutions. The Department has successfully combined nearly 150 Federal
education programs into a cohesive, streamlined organization that is more
responsive to the needs of educators and students. The Department has made
strides to cut red tape and paperwork and thereby to make the flow of
Federal dollars to school districts and institutions of higher education
more efficient. It is crucial that the Department be kept intact and
strengthened.
Our collaboration with the Congress has resulted in numerous other
important legislative accomplishments for education. A little over two
years ago, I signed into law on the same day two major bills--one
benefiting elementary and secondary education and the other, postsecondary
education. The Education Amendments of 1978 embodied nearly all of my
Administration's proposals for improvements in the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act, including important new programs to improve students'
achievement in the basic skills and to aid school districts with
exceptionally high concentrations of children from low-income families. The
Middle Income Student Assistance Act, legislation jointly sponsored by this
Administration and the Congressional leadership, expanded eligibility for
need-based Basic Educational Opportunity Grants to approximately one-third
of the students enrolled in post-secondary education and made many more
students eligible for the first time for other types of grants, work-study,
and loans.
Just three and a half months ago, my Administration and the Congress
successfully concluded over two years of work on a major reauthorization
bill that further expands benefits to postsecondary education. Reflected in
the Education Amendments of 1980 are major Administration recommendations
for improvements in the Higher Education Act--including proposals for
better loan access for students; a new parent loan program; simplified
application procedures for student financial aid; a strengthened Federal
commitment to developing colleges, particularly the historically Black
institutions; a new authorization for equipment and facilities
modernization funding for the nation's major research universities; and
revitalized international education programs.
Supplementing these legislative accomplishments have been important
administrative actions aimed at reducing paperwork and simplifying
regulations associated with Federal education programs. We also launched
major initiatives to reduce the backlog of defaulted student loans and
otherwise to curb fraud, abuse, and waste in education programs.
To insure that the education enterprise is ready to meet the scientific and
technological changes of the future, we undertook a major study of the
status of science and engineering education throughout the nation. I hope
that the findings from this report will serve as a springboard for needed
reforms at all levels of education.
I am proud that this Administration has been able to provide the financial
means to realize many of our legislative and administrative goals. Compared
to the previous administration's last budget, I have requested the largest
overall increase in Federal funding for education in our nation's history.
My budget requests have been particularly sensitive to the needs of special
populations like minorities, women, the educationally and economically
disadvantaged, the handicapped, and students with limited English-speaking
ability. At the same time, I have requested significant increases for many
programs designed to enhance the quality of American education, including
programs relating to important areas as diverse as international education,
research libraries, museums, and teacher centers.
Last year, I proposed to the Congress a major legislative initiative that
would direct $2 billion into education and job training programs designed
to alleviate youth unemployment through improved linkages between the
schools and the work place. This legislation generated bipartisan support;
but unfortunately, action on it was not completed in the final, rushed days
of the 96th Congress. I urge the new Congress--as it undertakes broad
efforts to strengthen the economy as well as more specific tasks like
reauthorizing the Vocational Education Act--to make the needs of our
nation's unemployed youth a top priority for action. Only by combining a
basic skills education program together with work training and employment
incentives can we make substantial progress in eliminating one of the most
severe social problems in our nation--youth unemployment, particularly
among minorities. I am proud of the progress already made through passage
of the Youth Employment and Demonstration Project Act of 1977 and the
substantial increase in our investment in youth employment programs. The
new legislation would cap these efforts.