This is the central document of the fourth series of annual reports to measure progress toward the National Education Goals through the year 2000; goals which set high expectations for education performance at every stage of a learner's life, from preschool through adulthood. The report focuses on 16 core indicators that are: comprehensive across the Goals; critical in determining whether the Goals are actually achieved; policy-actionable; and updated at frequent intervals. National performance has gotten better in four areas: improved general health and development of infants; increased mathematics achievement in grades 4 and 8; decline in student alcohol use; and a reduction in number of threats and violence in schools. However, one area has gotten worse: student drug use has increased. No discernible changes in national performance were detected in six areas, and in eight areas assessment of progress was not possible because of a lack of data. Sixteen exhibits and six tables summarize what is known of progress to date. Appendix A lists state progress on core indicators. Appendixes B and C contain technical notes and acknowledgements. (SLD)