The Florida Cabinet has decided to accept a significant decrease in the number of individuals completing college degrees, as long as those who do graduate are able to pass the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) at a considerably higher level than is presently required. Under the new standards, only 48% of the first-time CLAST examinees are expected to pass the test, and the impact on minorities will be even more severe. The new CLAST standards are based on the assumption that improvements in Florida's high school education during the 1980's would raise graduates' academic competence and skills base. This has not happened. Over the past 10 years, the percentage of students enrolling at Miami-Dade Community College with skills deficiencies has remained between 61% and 66%. After two years of community college education, few of these students have been able to improve their competencies enough to pass CLAST at the new levels. The real objective is not to require higher competencies of a smaller number of individuals, but rather to significantly increase the percentage of the total population who have the academic skills required for productive employment. Only 37.9% of American high school students are tracked into academic curricula, but 71% of them will actually proceed to some form of higher education and 80% of the jobs available will require some postsecondary education. As a result of high school tracking, 30% of the entering college students will be underprepared for college-level work, and many will fail or drop out. To remedy these problems, high schools must begin to operate on the assumption that a large percentage of their graduates will require strong academic skills. In addition, parents must involve themselves in the education of their children and provide the support and motivation that fosters a commitment to education. (AYC)