This report discusses various differences of opinion about the interrelationship that exists between governmental structure and the substantive policy outcomes of governmental decisionmaking. The views of political scientists and educators regarding the ideal structural relationship between education and government are presented. Some aspects of structural issues to which current educational research addresses itself are discussed, such as (1) the significance of the degree of local school district autonomy; (2) the impact of noneducation expenditures on education expenditures; (3) the roles of State and Federal aid; and (4) the relevance of research findings to some of the current issues in the education field, with particular emphasis on the issues embodied in the relationship between education's governing structure and its financing. (Author/JF)