This paper examines relationships between measures of educational interest group strength, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA); characteristics of state education agencies (SEA); and selected indicators of educational policy centralization. The more specific purpose of this study is the discovery of patterns of both interest group (AFT and NEA) and SEA influences on educational policy choices in different regions and political culture types. State educational policy centralization or decentralization is operationalized in terms of relative state or local responsibilities in two program areas: textbook selection and student testing for grade promotion or graduation (competency-based education). The findings suggest that the internal and external policymaking distinctions are useful for understanding the correlates of state educational centralization policies. More specifically, there is an association between interest group or SEA resources and policy choices for the population of states and generally within regions. High levels of bureaucratic resources tend to be associated with policy centralization; conversely, strong interest group resources tend to be associated with policy decentralization. Appended are 5 tables, 21 notes, a 23-item bibliography, and 2 appendixes that show the data sources. (Author/MLF)