PRIMARY PURPOSE AND FINDINGS.

SEC. 2852. PRIMARY PURPOSE AND FINDINGS. (a) Purpose.— The primary purpose of the Consensus Commission is to assist in developing a long-term reform plan that has the support of the District of Columbia community through the participation of representatives of various critical segments of such community in helping to develop and approve the plan. 110 STAT. 1321–153 (b) Findings.— The Congress finds that— (1) experience has shown that the failure of the District of Columbia educational system has been due more to the failure to implement a plan than the failure to develop a plan; (2) national studies indicate that 50 percent of secondary school graduates lack basic literacy skills, and over 30 percent of the 7th grade students in the District of Columbia public schools drop out of school before graduating; (3) standard student assessments indicate only average performance for grade level and fail to identify individual students who lack basic skills, allowing too many students to graduate lacking these basic skills and diminishing the worth of a diploma; (4) experience has shown that successful schools have good community, parent, and business involvement; (5) experience has shown that reducing dropout rates in the critical middle and secondary school years requires individual student involvement and attention through such activities as arts or athletics; and (6) experience has shown that close coordination between educators and business persons is required to provide noncollege-bound students the skills necessary for employment, and that personal attention is vitally important to assist each student in developing an appropriate career path.