The School-to-Work Opportunities Act provided for partnerships between educators and employers to build a highly-skilled workforce. This included collaborative partnerships, integrated curricula, technological advances, adaptable workers, comprehensive career guidance, work-based learning, and a step-by-step approach to facilitate the transition from education to a competitive labor market.

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act required work in exchange for time-limited assistance. It supported families moving from welfare to employment and in general, dramatically changed the nation's welfare system.

The Hope Scholarship and Lifelong Learning Tex were enacted under the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. IDEA was expanded upon, ensuring proper education for individuals with special needs under the age of 22. It identified a total of 13 types of disabilities and contained changes to previous legislation in order to ensure youth with disabilities receive a free and appropriate education.

The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998 expanded upon the previous 1990 Perkins Act, giving states and local agencies greater flexibility in developing career and technical programs, while also holding them more accountable for student performance. States and local school districts were required to provide information on student achievement, program completion, placement in postsecondary education and the workforce, and improved gender equity in program offerings.

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 repealed the Job Partnership and Training Act as of July 1, 2000. This act was designed to better meet the needs of the nation's businesses. It established a framework for a unique workforce preparation and employment system. Specifically, some of the features included one-stop career centers, consolidation of workforce development activities, emphasis on youth programs, new focus on program accountability, recognizing differences in individual outcomes and the role of employers, and longer periods of time for planning and service. Goals were to increase employment, retention, and earnings, as well as improve the quality of the workforce, reduce welfare dependency, and enhance productivity and competitiveness.

The Higher Education Act was extended to strengthen higher education by including lower student loan interest rates, an attempt at recruiting and training qualified teachers, and the promotion of high quality distance learning opportunities for students.