A study made to identify the critical educational needs of the State of North Dakota is presented in the six chapters of this report and its appendixes. Chapter I, Introduction, discusses historical considerations and provides an overview of the report. Chapter II contains a comprehensive but concise description of the technical procedures employed in the study, which utilized a two-prong attack. The first prong was to identify what the various segments of North Dakota's population felt were educational areas requiring further attention; and the second prong was to document evidence that would prove whether or not these problem areas could justifiably be identified as critical educational needs for Title III, ESEA. Chapters III and IV present the results of the first prong of the attack; Chapter III presents the results of a pilot study conducted in late spring of 1969 in the northeastern region of the state. The purpose of the pilot study was to make possible the testing of the procedures and the instrument developed for the needs assessment study. Chapter IV presents the results of the statewide needs assessment conducted in late Fall 1969. Chapter V presents the results of the second prong of the attack, consisting of a series of brief reports by experts in approximately 30 highest ranking educational needs. These reports contain data comparing the status of each need in North Dakota with its status in other states or nationally. The reports conclude with recommendations as to whether each need is critical for Title III, ESEA. Chapter VI summarizes the information of the proceeding chapters. Thirty-three tables provide the study data. The Pilot and Statewide Questionnaires are given in appendixes. (DB)