FROM THE INCEPTION OF THE MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM IN MARCH 1962 UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1964, THE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR AND HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE ISSUED VIRTUALLY NO GUIDELINES TO STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS REGARDING TRAINEE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS. THE ATTENDANCE RECORDS OF 2,902 TRAINEES PREPARED BY TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS IN PENNSYLVANIA WERE REVIEWED BY THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE. ON THE AVERAGE, THE TRAINEES WERE ABSENT FROM CLASS 8.5 PERCENT OF THE TIME, AND ABSENTEEISM WAS IN EXCESS OF 25 PERCENT IN MANY INSTANCES. HOWEVER, THE TRAINEES HAD RECEIVED FULL TRAINING ALLOWANCES. ATTENDANCE REPORTS COVERING 7,900 TRAINEES IN CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS, KENTUCKY, AND NEW JERSEY SHOWED SIMILAR HIGH ABSENTEE RATES. CONSEQUENTLY, THE MANPOWER ADMINISTRATOR, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, ISSUED AN ORDER ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1964, DEFINING EXCUSED ABSENCES AND PROVIDING FOR REDUCTION OF TRAINING ALLOWANCES TO ELIMINATE PAYMENTS FOR UNEXCUSED ABSENCES. ON THE BASIS OF THIS STUDY, IT WAS RECOMMENDED (1) THAT THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE MAKE PERIODIC REVIEWS AND ANALYSES OF ATTENDANCE AND, IN THE EVENT OF CONTINUED ABSENCES AS NOTED IN PENNSYLVANIA, HE PROVIDE, WITH THE CONCURRENCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF STATE AGENCIES IN DETERMINING THE NUMBER OF ABSENCES, EXCUSED AND UNEXCUSED, PERMISSIBLE FOR SATISFACTORY ATTENDANCE, AND (2) THAT THE SECRETARY OF LABOR ESTABLISH GUIDELINE CRITERIA AS TO THE NUMBER OF EXCUSED ABSENCES FOR WHICH TRAINING ALLOWANCES MAY BE PAID. A LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS OF FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS HAVING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTERING THE TRAINING PROGRAMS IS INCLUDED. (PS)