This is a collection of essays that originally appeared in the 1970-71 issues of "The School Administrator." All are concerned with the general topic of politics and education, and each was prepared by a recognized scholar. Each essay focuses on a set of critical questions and issues around which national policy evolves. The series is intended to provide a thoughtful basis for study and understanding of the problems and issues inherent in the changing relationships among levels of government. The essays include those originally published under the following titles: "The Politics of Education,""National Political Parties and Educational Policy Making,""Interest Groups and Federal Education Policy,""Relationships Between Federal and State Systems,""The States and Urban School Systems,""Community Influence Systems and Local Educational Policy-Making,""Political Confrontation,""Planning and Politics,""Community Involvement in Educational Policy-Making,""The Politics of School Desegregation," and "Local Interagency Cooperation." (Author/IRT)