Page "Bill Clinton" Paragraph 20

In the early 1980s, Clinton made reform of the Arkansas education system a top priority.

The Arkansas Education Standards Committee, chaired by Clinton's wife, attorney and Legal Services Corporation chair Hillary Rodham Clinton, succeeded in reforming the education system, transforming it from the worst in the nation into one of the best.

Many have considered this the greatest achievement of the Clinton governorship.

Clinton and the committee were responsible for state educational improvement programs, notably more spending for schools, rising opportunities for gifted children, an increase in vocational education, raising of teachers ' salaries, inclusion of a wider variety of courses, and compulsory teacher testing for aspiring educators.

He defeated four Republican candidates for governor: Lowe ( 1978 ), White ( 1982 and 1986 ), and businessmen Woody Freeman of Jonesboro, ( 1984 ) and Sheffield Nelson of Little Rock ( 1990 ).