Collected in this volume are the papers presented at the 1978 Chief State School Officers Summer Institute. The program was devoted to political issues in education and focused on a number of current educational problems. Political issues were discussed in relation to a number of areas, including federal education priorities, federal-state relations, the education-state government relationship, local control of education, school finance reform, competency testing, vocational and career education, bilingual and bicultural education, teacher education and certification, past and future trends, and curriculum reform. Each issue was examined in the light of four interrelated questions: What actors are involved in the decisions? What ends do they seek and how? What reallocations of power, financial support, or other resources will have to be made to satisfy varied interests? and What action-alternatives are open to state school officers? Presentations were made by noted scholars and practitioners. (Author/JM)