In 1989, a coalition of state governors concerned about the ailing state of America's public schools proposed a solution: "Goals 2000." This program would set educational goals for the nation's public schools to be achieved by the year 2000, create a framework for implementing the goals, and provide incentives for the states to cooperate in meeting the goals.

By 1994, the eight national goals were in place and Goals 2000 was an official federal program.

On the surface, these goals to improve America's schools were unobjectionable. But many conservatives, including homeschoolers, identified dangerous pitfalls in Goals 2000.

First, although Goals 2000 was presented to the states as a program in which they could "voluntarily" participate, opting out meant passing up significant federal funds as well. However, the states found quite a few mandates hidden in the small print, requiring them to:

• submit grant proposals;
  
• submit "improvement plans" for the U.S. Secretary of Education's approval;
  
• receive penalties for failure to comply with their own improvement plans;
  
• form "partnerships" between local schools, businesses, and institutions of higher education; and
  
• coordinate their Goals 2000 efforts with School-to-Work and other social reform programs.
  

The Opposition

The National Center of Home Education, the federal lobbying division of Home School Legal Defense Association, has been keeping a wary eye on Goals 2000 since its inception. In late 1993 when Congress prepared to vote to authorize Goals 2000, the National Center alerted homeschoolers around the nation asking them to oppose the measure.

In 1997 and 1998, the National Center lobbied House and Senate leadership and orchestrated nationwide alerts to urge passage of the Gorton Amendment—legislation that would defund Goals 2000 and block grant the money to the states instead. Due to the diligent efforts of homeschool moms and dads, the Gorton Amendment was passed by the Senate, but unfortunately was then removed in conference committee.

Following HSLDA's Home School Freedom Works Rally at the Capitol on September 23, 1999, the National Center organized lobbying appointments for 1,800 homeschoolers with 250 congressional offices. Later that fall, these visits paid off as congressmen and their staff demonstrated that they recognized and understood the opposition against Goals 2000.

In early November 1999, the National Center received a tip that although the House had refused to fund or reauthorize it, Goals 2000 funding was being put back into the 1999 Education/Labor/HHS Appropriations bill. Other contacts on Capitol Hill confirmed this discouraging report. Several congressional offices told the National Center, "Clinton wants Goals 2000. It is his pet project. There is no way we can repeal Goals 2000."

National Center staff contacted Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott's office and other Senate and House leaders. They persistently explained homeschoolers' opposition to Goals 2000, again asking for its repeal. House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Bill Goodling (formerly PA-19th) responded encouragingly, promising not to settle for anything less than repeal of Goals 2000. Meanwhile, the National Center's Congressional Action Program (CAP) orchestrated a national alert, generating hundreds of calls from homeschoolers to key leadership offices.

The citizens' message got through to negotiators. On November 17, Congressman Goodling, House and Senate leadership, and President Clinton reached an agreement on the 1999 appropriations bill. An amendment was added ending all Goals 2000 funding to the states and officially repealing key sections of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, effective September 30, 2000. President Clinton signed the bill into law on November 30, 1999. With federal "seed" money cut off, the National Center expected state-level Goals 2000 programs to wither away.

While many conservative, pro-family groups have opposed Goals 2000 over the years, a staffer of the Educational and Workforce Committee involved in the final negotiations remarked, "If HSLDA had not brought up the Goals 2000 issue, it would have never seen the light of day." The fight against Goals 2000 has been a long battle, but "the homeschoolers kept up a constant drumbeat," said another staffer.

As a result of the 1999 appropriations bill, the Titles III and IV of Goals 2000 were eliminated after September 2000. But Titles I, II, V, and VI through X still remained. Although HSLDA did not consider these titles to be as dangerous as the second and third, HSLDA still continued to push for a complete termination of the entire Goals 2000 program.

Update: Goals 2000 Finally Dead