Federally supported educational research and development (R and D) has not fulfilled the high hopes held by its advocates. Even after the advent of the National Institute of Education, some experts believe that no progress occurred in the conduct of federally supported research and development. Others believe that the federal government is taking over all aspects of education supported by federal funds. Through the policy of funding research by requests for proposals, federal officials are dictating not only the substantive areas of research but often its methodology and style of reporting results. Changes in federal policies are needed that take into account the needs and responsibilities of local and state education agencies. Field-initiated research rather than federally directed research should again be encouraged and supported. Field-initiated training programs, particularly for experienced research, development, and implementation personnel should be started. Most important, at least one educational R and D institute and one implementation council should be started in each state with matching federal and state funds, but without federal direction of the programs and activities. Thus, more federal funds would support research in universities and other agencies, new research methods would become more widespread, and quality and accountability of educational R and D would increase. (Author/JM)