THE FORD FOUNDATION SPONSORED A CONFERENCE INVOLVING SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS AND THE STATE COMMISSIONERS OF EDUCATION FROM THREE STATES. LEADERS OF THREE NATIONAL NEGRO ORGANIZATIONS SERVED AS CONSULTANTS. MAJOR ISSUES CONFRONTING PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS WERE DISCUSSED WITH REGARD TO THE BASIC CHALLENGES AND PROBLEMS PRESENTED PRESENTED BY DE FACTO SEGREGATION. THE SUPERINTENDENTS CONCERNED THEMSELVES WITH METHODS FOR ACHIEVING A BETTER RACIAL BALANCE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE BASIC AIMS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN A FREE SOCIETY. RESOURCES OFFERED AND VIEWS EXPRESSED BY PARTICIPATING FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE GIVEN. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEW PROVIDES FOR GUIDANCE INSTITUTES UNDER THE NATIONAL DEFENSE EDUCATION ACT. UNDER THE MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING ACT, PROVISIONS FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND BASIC EDUCATION ARE MADE. FEDERAL AID IS AVAILABLE TO IMPACTED AREAS. THE HOME AND HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY IS HELPING TO COMBAT DISCRIMINATION AND DE FACTO SEGREGATION IN HOUSING. THE CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION WAS CREATED BY CONGRESS TO STUDY AND FOLLOW LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS INVOLVING THE DENIAL OF EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAWS. THE RESOURCES OFFERED AND VIEWS EXPRESSED BY NATIONAL NEGRO ORGANIZATIONS - NAACP, THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE, AND CORE - ARE PRESENTED. OPEN ENROLLMENT, THE PRINCETON PLAN, THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL CONCEPT, AND THE EDUCATIONAL PARK CONCEPT ARE DISCUSSED. GUIDELINES ARE PRESENTED FOR STUDY--STUDENT GROUPING TECHNIQUES, EARLY ADMISSION PROGRAMS, FINANCIAL INVESTMENT AND COST, LEGISLATION, ENROLLMENT POLICIES, AND PUPIL TRANSPORTATION. COMMUNITY PLANNING IS CALLED FOR.