And the U.S. Department of Education has actively supported the development of content standards. This legislation authorizes grants to develop voluntary assessment systems that correspond to state standards. And under the reauthorized Title I programs, the federal government now requires states to adopt high performance standards and assessments to verify that these standards are being met. The process of developing voluntary standards and, in some instances, the standards themselves, are sources of controversy. Although 46 states have applied for Goals 2000 funds for their standards-development efforts, at least one has announced that it will not do so.
Standards are a volatile issue within some states, as well.
Virginia's previous governor, for example, halted work on the Common Core of Learning in response to vocal constituencies. Moreover, the federal government is reexamining its own role with respect to educational accountability. Indeed, some budget cutting proposals in the House would have eliminated the federal Department of Education altogether. Despite controversy about standards, the public still wants to know about the performance of its schools. States have responded by providing detailed reports about the conditions of schools and the outcomes of instruction.