Administrative costs will fall even further as the department trims its staff by an additional 9 percent by the year 2000. Education under their proposal would be buried within an agency 500 percent larger than the current department. The proposed merger would erect a new hierarchy daunting to employees and citizens alike. The General Accounting Office, in a draft report circulated earlier this year, warned that the work-force reductions required by the merger plan could impair both service quality and the ability to meet future challenges. Even more significant, the plan ignores the very different roles of the two agencies.
Education is the development of a person's knowledge, skill, mind and character.
A good education is the foundation not only for a successful career, but for success in all aspects of life. These federal efforts make a difference. Since the department was formed, many more students, especially minority students, are now taking advanced-placement exams. The achievement gap between white and African American students has narrowed. Math and science scores are up, the dropout rate is down and many more students with disabilities are staying in school and getting a job when they graduate.