The purpose of this booklet is to provide a brief overview of the 1981-82 high school debate resolutions, which focus on minimum competencies, uniform financing, and standardized teacher certification as methods of improving the United States elementary and secondary education systems. The five chapters of the booklet are intended to prepare debaters for their own efficient investigation of the problem area. The five chapters are: (1) overview of current issues in elementary and secondary education, including an examination of federal, state, and local approaches to these issues; (2) the first resolution, minimum standards required for achieving an education; (3) the second resolution, school finance; (4) the third resolution, teacher certification; and (5) getting started, a review of useful information on researching the topic of education. At the end of the final chapter are footnotes for each chapter and selected bibliographies on the topic of elementary and secondary education. (RL)