From staff and wire reports

Since 1989, the United States has been working to achieve by 2000 eight national education goals crafted by Presidents Bush and Clinton and the nation's governors. The National Educational Goals panel graded states on how their schools, students, and communities have met those goals.

MESSAGE BOARD Changes in education

Goal 1: All U.S. children will start school ready to learn.

Generally, states have improved in this category, which includes making sure that children are fully immunized against preventable childhood disease, that more parents are reading to their children and that more poor families can send their children to preschool. But 36 states failed to reduce the percentages of children with abnormally low birthweights.

Goal 2: The high school graduation rate will be 90 percent or higher.

The national average has fluctuated from 86 percent in 1990 to 85 percent in 1998. But 17 states have reached the goal.

Goal 3: Pupils will leave grades 4, 8 and 12 having shown competence over challenging subject matter.

Achievement is up in math, but down or the same in reading for all except eighth-graders. Officials are awaiting data to be released in 2000 and beyond for comparisons in writing, science, history, geography and civics.

Goal 4: U.S. students will be the first in the world in math and science.

In math, 20 of 40 countries scored above the United States among eighth-graders, and 14 of 20 countries scored above among 12th-graders. In science, nine of 40 countries were above the United States among eighth-graders, and 11 of 20 countries above among 12th-graders. But more U.S. students, including female and minority students, are earning college degrees in math and science.

Goal 5: Every American adult will be literate.

The panel says up-to-date figures are not available.

Goal 6: Schools will be free of drugs, guns and violence.

Mixed results: Teachers say disruptions in classrooms are up and more children report using drugs or buying and selling them at school. But students also report that threats or injuries at school are down.

Goal 7: Schools will promote partnerships with parents.

Unchanged overall.

Goal 8: Teachers will have access to professional development.

The number of high school teachers who hold undergraduate or graduate degrees in their main area of teaching has fallen to 63 percent from 66 percent.

The panel identified some states that have improved in education over the decade: