The eight goals focus on readiness to learn; school completion; student achievement and citizenship; teacher education and professional development; mathematics and science achievement; adult literacy and lifelong learning; safe, disciplined, and alcohol-free and drug-free schools; and parental participation. The report presents data on approximately two dozen core indicators of progress. It notes that national performance has significantly improved in five areas: infants' general health status, the proportion of preschoolers to whom someone regularly reads or tells stories, mathematics achievement at grades 4 and 8, reduced incidents of threats and injuries to students at school, and female students receiving degrees in mathematics and science. However, reading achievement at grade 12 has declined, juvenile drug use has increased, the sale of drugs at school has increased, and threats and injuries to public school teachers have increased. National performance has not significantly changed in eight areas. The report emphasizes the basic role that families have in educating their children and provides examples of what States and communities are doing to strengthen the link between families and schools. Tables, figures, and appended information on data sources and methodologies