WASHINGTON, DC - Apparently believing that money is the solution to America's educational woes, President Clinton has proposed a massive infusion of new federal dollars over the next five years. His plan includes: $7.3 billion for new teacher recruitment and training, $5 billion in new funds for school construction, plus additional funding for children in poor and urban areas, a college mentoring program, computer technology, charter schools, and bilingual education.

The new budget represents record increases in education spending. One item the budget does not provide for are block grants to the states, which allow local districts to decide for themselves how best to spend federal funds. The Clinton Administration's position is that the small dollar amounts "dribbled out" in block grants "have little impact."

Congressional Republicans are expected to support a number of Clinton's initiatives, but others will undoubtedly prove a source of conflict, including the issue of block grants.

• $5 billion over five years for school construction

• $2.5 billion over five years for college mentoring program

• $1.5 billion over five years for schools in poor areas

• $200 million in 1999 for Hispanic student programs; bilingual education