According to "A Nation at Risk", the American education system .
has declined due to a "rising tide of mediocrity" in our schools. .
States such as New York have responded to the findings and .
recommendations of the report by implementing such strategies as the .
"Regents Action Plan" and the "New Compact for Learning".
In the early 1980's, President Regan ordered a national .
commission to study our education system. The findings of this .
commission were that, compared with other industrialized nations, our .
education system is grossly inadequate in meeting the standards of .
education that many other countries have developed. At one time, .
America was the world leader in technology, service, and industry, but .
overconfidence based on a historical belief in our superiority has .
caused our nation to fall behind the rapidly growing competitive .
market in the world with regard to education. The report in some .
respects is an unfair comparison of our education system, which does .
not have a national standard for goals, curriculum, or regulations, .
with other countries that do, but the findings nevertheless reflect .
the need for change. Our education system at this time is regulated .
by states which implement their own curriculum, set their own goals .
and have their own requirements for teacher preparation. Combined .
with this is the fact that we have lowered our expectations in these .
areas, thus we are not providing an equal or quality education to all .
students across the country. The commission findings generated .
recommendations to improve the content of education and raise the .
standards of student achievement, particularly in testing, increase .
the time spent on education and provide incentives to encourage more .
individuals to enter the field of education as well as improving .
teacher preparation.
N.Y. State responded to these recommendations by first .
implementing the Regents Action Plan; an eight year plan designed to .
