The purpose of this manual is to place in the hands of the educational committees of the 44 State legislatures that convene in 1919, a suggestive program of educational legislation based upon the present emergency in our national life. Each topic discussed falls, as a rule, under three distinct heads: (1) Historic background; (2) Summary of present organization or status; and (3) Reasonable-standards of attainment. Contents include: (1) Purpose and scope; (2) General analysis of school organization and administration; (3) School population, enrollment and attendance; (4) Rural school organization; (5) School finances; (6) Physical education; (7) School grounds and buildings; (8) Preparation of teachers; (9) Certification of teachers; (10) Teachers' salaries, tenure, and retirement pensions; and (11) School textbooks. (Contains 13 footnotes and 8 tables.) [Prepared under the direction of the Rural Division, United States Bureau of Education. Best copy available has been provided.]