Section 14 of Act No. 307, Public Acts of 1969 of the State of Michigan directed the Department of Education to plan and develop a state program to assess educational progress. The purposes and procedures to be followed in this program during the 1969-70 school year, are outlined in this report. The program will consist of two complementary efforts. The first is an evaluation of school system performance in basic skill achievements, at the fourth and seventh year levels of schooling, by use of test batteries administered to students. This effort will constitute the initial phase of a continuing, comprehensive evaluation program of school system performance. The second area of assessment will involve the development of additional educational performance goals and their evaluation: (1) the definition of educational goals; (2) the development of instruments to measure within the goal areas; (3) information on the level and distribution of Michigan education in terms of additional goal areas will be included. The criteria of procedures to be used in this program and their importance in future educational research are discussed. The information on the needs and problems of a given school system provided by the evaluation program should facilitate planning and directing innovations. See TM 000 346-49 abd TM 000 324. (AE)