A needs sensing confirmation study was conducted to identify the Appalachia Educational Laboratory's (AEL) long term research and development program needs and provide guidelines for its seven member states' activities. The AEL Board of Directors, individuals serving in similar positions as the Board members, and a sample of non-public school administrators were surveyed. Previous AEL educational needs studies (1980-83) utilized the need statements generated by statewide conference participants in 1980. This 1984 study used 21 needs statement summaries, with a rating scale of 0 to 4 for evaluating importance. Results for 1980-83 indicated that important educational needs had not shifted extremely over time; consequently, no major shifts in AEL services or long term programmatic research and development should have occurred as a function of these results. The 1984 survey results were strikingly similiar to the previous studies: mastering basic skills and developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be effective life-long learners were very important in each state and across the region. Those surveyed were in high agreement concerning the importance of the needs statements. Twenty tables summarize the findings, and extensive appendices (about half the document) contain communications with and listings of those surveyed, and the needs statement instrument used. (BS)