This report discusses an oversight investigation of the Department of Education's Publication and Audio Visual Council (PAVAC) and its successor, the Publications Review Board (PRB). Background information is provided about the review process for publications and products; the Women's Educational Equity Act (WEEA) program; educational laboratories and centers; the PAVAC record; and the modification of the review process. Findings concern rejection of products of the educational laboratories and centers and WEEA; cost of review procedures; training and expertise of PAVAC and PRB members; educators' access to educational equity materials; bias in PAVAC review of WEEA products; lack of consideration of appeals prepared for WEEA products; conflict with the WEEA amendments of 1984; PAVAC review and rejection of publications that it was not required to review; and delays and uncertainty resulting from PAVAC and PRB reviews. As a result of these findings, four conclusions and six recommendations are presented concerning cost-cutting measures, scope of PRB review, dissemination of rejected WEEA products, decisions concerning Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) product dissemination, and the elimination of photocopies and products costing under $2,500 from the review process. Statements of dissenting and supplemental views are provided. (KM)