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 .