Local Education Executive Attends White House Ceremony

February 4, 1998

IOWA CITY, Iowa—Richard L. Ferguson, president of Iowa City-based ACT Inc., was among 80 education leaders attending President Clinton's announcement today of an initiative to prepare greater numbers of disadvantaged children for higher education. Clinton unveiled his new program, "HIGH HOPES for College for America's Youth," in the East Room of the White House at 2:00 p.m. CST.

"HIGH HOPES has the potential to make a real difference in raising the achievement levels of low-income young people," Ferguson said. "The message that taking rigorous core courses is the best means of college preparation is one that ACT has been transmitting for years."

The Clinton proposal, alluded to in his State of the Union address, calls for federal grants for colleges that establish partnerships with middle and junior high schools in low-income communities. The partnerships will help families understand that, with aid and planning, college is affordable regardless of family income. They will also teach children, beginning in the sixth grade, what it means and what it takes to go to college and will see that all children have access to the rigorous core courses that will prepare them for the successful transition to college.