In 1990, President Bush and the nation's governors adopted the six National Education Goals as part of a campaign to increase educational performance at all levels. Goal 3 states that, by the year 2000, American students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having demonstrated competence in challenging subject matter, including English, mathematics, science, history, and geography, and that every school in America will ensure that all students are prepared for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment in the modern economy. This report examines the achievement of 17-year-olds and 9-year-olds in mathematics, reading, and science, and recommends some steps parents and schools can take to improve performance. Data are from the National Assessment of Educational Progress report from 1991 ("Trends in Academic Progress"). The results are not encouraging. Not only are many of the 17-year-olds failing to acquire the skills they need, but the 9-year-olds are not performing better than their counterparts in the past. A decline in reading and an increase in television watching accompany these trends. Parents can help by encouraging children to read, helping them use their free time more constructively than watching television, and working with the schools. Schools can improve performance by assigning regular homework, by holding all students to the same high standards, and by having high expectations for all students. Three graphs are included. (SLD)