One of the major deficiencies of the recent educational reports calling for educational reform is the failure to suggest ways of using the federal role to meet the national interest. Seven dimensions of national social, economic, and political commitment that are linked to education are: (1) expansion of equality of opportunities for the…

Analysis of six federal government studies on deinstitutionalization is followed by a discussion of initiatives enacted by the 95th Congress and proposals under consideration in the 96th. Among studies described are reports by the U.S. Government Accounting Office ("Returning the Mentally Disabled to the Community: Government Needs to Do…

Drawing on studies by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) and other federal and state organizations, this document summarizes information and findings on six federal block grant programs involving social services, low-income home energy assistance, mental health, community services, maternal and child health, and preventive health. It also…

Although federal involvement in education has been reduced in the 1980's under the Reagan Administration's "New Federalism," it is far from clear that state and local governments are willing and able to adequately compensate for this decreasing involvement to ensure educational equity and quality. In the current debate over federalism,…