The most important principle in Federal education policy is equal access to a good education for every young person, irrespective of race, faith, family circumstance, cultural background, age, or sex, and irrespective of any physical or mental handicap. The Office of Education is doing many things to help the States and local school districts provide equal access. This paper discusses such programs as Basic Educational Opportunity Grants, Guaranteed Student Loans, Work Study programs, the Emergency School Aid Act, Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Right to Read, and bilingual projects. (Author/JF)