The National Council on Education Standards and Testing held its first meeting in Washington to discuss proposals for national mathematics skills assessment testing for the nation’s schoolchildren. National testing would provide a means of determining an individual school’s weaknesses in particular areas of learning and would allow comparisons of school performances which parents may peruse when determining their child’s choice of schools under the new parental school choice initiative. National skills assessment testing is part of President Bush’s America 2000 education initiatives, and is also part of the six goals set forth by the National Education Goals Panel in seeking to improve American education. The National Council on Education Standards, like the National Education Goals Panel, is made up of business people, teachers, administrators, and government figures seeking to determine the efficacy of education initiatives for the U.S. The National Council on Education Standards will prepare a report on its recommendations concerning testing for dispersal to Congress, the President, and the National Education Goals Panel.