As part of the 1978 amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, a comprehensive study of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) was mandated by the 96th Congress. The objectives were to determine the educational quality of DoDDS, the relation of student progress to expectations, the availability of resources and facilities, the effectiveness of the organizational structure, and future factors affecting DoDDS. Data were obtained from a multidimensional matrix approach involving a mail survey of principals, selected site visitations, and indepth case studies, along with a comparative survey of stateside resources. The result is a four-volume report, the first of which presents the findings of the study in 14 chapters covering the following topics: (1) study methodology, (2) quality of education, (3) special services and programs for students with special needs, (4) special education, (5) testing and evaluation, (6) student achievement and attitudes, (7) staffing and staff development, (8) physical assets of DoDDS, (9) pupil transportation, (10) other aspects of support services (support of the military community, student feeding programs, advisory bodies, (11) stateside resources comparison, (12) budget and finance, (13) decision making and policy development, and (14) structure and organization. (TE)