This paper considers three aspects of federal legislation and policy that are critical to an understanding of federal dissemination of research and development and exemplary practice information in education. One of the major difficulties is the variety of viewpoints on what constitutes dissemination. These range from one-way flow of information to all possible activities that might result in desired educational improvement. The second aspect is the complexity of dissemination introduced by federal legislation. Fifty-four different individuals and agencies have responsibility for dissemination in education--from the President to state and local agencies. The third factor is the funding of dissemination. In fiscal year 1975 research and development funding represented less than half of one percent of the total investment in education. The funding for dissemination was ten percent of all research and development. There is also a mismatch between agency responsibility and agency funding level. The National Institute of Education (NIE), taking these aspects into account, concentrates on four strategies to assist people and agencies with dissemination functions. (Author/KP)