Proposes four specific actions to maintain science education's viability and plan for its future, focusing on scientific literacy. These proposals are based on: (1) an analysis of historical determinants of federal role in education; (2) interpretation of the Reagan administration's decisions influencing education; and (3) projections for federal…

This study, conducted by the staff of Minnesota Research and Evaluation Project (MREP), reports the results of several needs assessment procedures used with teachers and principals from a random sample of 224 schools from 13 western and midwestern states. (HM)