This paper discusses two examples of federal agencies which administer laws fundamental to the protection and advancement of the educational interests of minority children: the Office for Civil Rights, and the Division of Education for the Disadvantaged. Provisions of these laws can be construed as protective standards which may provide the major potential for enforceable safeguards for the educational interests of minority students participating in minimum-competency programs. However, if that potential is to be realized, federal agencies with appropriate jurisdictions must take greater initiatives. While the extent to which the current lack of initiative may be detrimental to the educational interests of minority children is unknown, the possibility of harm is certainly increased by the absence of promulgated policies and legal interpretations. So far, the interest in minimum-competency programs on the part of these two federal agencies has been largely reactive. Whether a reactive role is in the best educational interests of protected classes or even consistent with the spirit of those agencies' administrative and enforcement obligations is questionable. Meanwhile, minimum-competency programs are being implemented, protected classes of students are being affected by them, and there are no recognized or enforced standards to assure that the educational interests of those students will be protected. (Author/CTM)