Clinton later addressed a crowd of Kentucky dignitaries and local school boosters, who were entertained by jazz musicians from Apollo and Daviess County high schools while they waited nearly two hours in the stuffy Audubon gym. Clinton thanked Patton for shepherding Kentucky's school-reform act for the past five years. He noted that 91 percent of the 175 schools identified as needing improvement in 1996 have exceeded the goals set for them. They can learn, if they have the opportunity, the system and the support. But the gap between poor and rich schools remains.
Studies consistently show poor students at a disadvantage.
And what you've done here will work in any community in the country. The message inspired Robert Sexton, executive director of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, a non-partisan group that has been working for well over a decade to improve Kentucky's schools. Having the president come and say such nice things ought to give people who worked hard a real boost. Today Clinton will stop in St. Paul, Minn., and Columbus, Ohio.