The introduction which precedes the two major sections of this position paper discusses the baseline and causes of educational change and some policy alternatives for Federal support of dissemination activities. Following this, part I of the body of the paper offers a statement describing the National Institute of Education's (NIE) program thrust on educational communication and resource utilization. First treated is research on the flow and fate of educational innovations, including adoption decision-making studies and tracer analysis of specific innovations. Next, attention is given to the development and testing of alternative models for NIE's dissemination and utilization program; this section has previously been listed as a separate entry (IR 000 121) with its own abstract. (PB)