To designate the week of April 15 through 21, 1991, as "National Education First Week".
PL 102-31 (H.J.Res.197), enacted 04/18/1991

PUBLIC LAW 102-31—APR. 18, 1991 
105 STAT. 173 
Public Law 102-31 
102d Congress 
Joint Resolution 
To designate the week of April 15 through 21, 1991, as "National Education First 
Apr. 18, 1991 
Week". 
[H.J. Res. 197] 
Whereas the economic success and democratic vitality of the United 
States in the coming millenium depends principally on the Na-
tion's ability to provide a world class education from kindergarten 
through 12th grade; 
Whereas all people of the United States have the right to a fulfill-
ing, free, and safe elementary and secondary education that will 
enable them to be productive, skilled, and literate citizens; 
Whereas the United States today faces an unprecedented education 
crisis in which students fail to graduate from high school at a rate 
of 3,000 students a day (or more than 1,000,000 students a year) for 
the general population, and 46 percent for Black and Hispanic 
students; 
Whereas 26,000,000 people in the United States are functionally 
illiterate, and only 40 percent of the Nation's students are able to 
solve math problems requiring 2 or more steps; 
Whereas international competitors are outpacing the United States 
in preparing their students for the 21st century, as evidenced by 
data indicating that a Japanese student spends 30 percent more 
time in school than a student in the United States and that Japan 
has a literacy rate of almost 98 percent; 
Whereas the education crisis of the United States places great 
strains on the Nation's economic, social, and political fabric, as 
evidenced by data indicating that 80 percent of prisoners are high 
school dropouts, 77 percent of college graduates (but only 37 
percent of individuals with not more than an 8th grade education) 
voted in the 1988 presidential election, and only 3 percent of the 
Nation's high school graduates can interpret distinctions among 
employee benefits plans; 
Whereas the Nation's education crisis has reached such damaging 
proportions that only a coordinated, long-term effort by all sectors 
of the United States, including business, government, media, 
labor, and educators, can adequately address the challenge; 
Whereas the media, including the television networks, the motion 
picture studios, and the cable television networks, are powerful 
tools to influence and arouse the public to a better understanding 
of the scope and severity of the education crisis, as well as to 
potential grassroots and legislative solutions to the crisis; 
Whereas the commitment of the television networks to promote 
Education First Week represents the single greatest commitment 
of broadcast resources in the history of the television medium to 
address a national problem; 
Whereas Education First Week presents a unique opportunity to 
mobilize national and local political and public awareness through 
the media and is a significant step in confronting the Nation's 
education crisis: Now, therefore, be it 
105 STAT. 174 
PUBLIC LAW 102-31—APR. 18, 1991 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the week of April 15 
through 21, 1991, is designated as "National Education First Week", 
and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclama-
tion calling on the people of the United States to observe the week 
with appropriate ceremonies and activities. 
Approved April 18, 1991. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.J. Res. 197: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. Vol. 137 (1991): 
Apr. 11, considered £ind ptissed House and Senate.