Attempts to cut government costs have unfairly focused on social security, disregarding its importance to older Americans. The program also has been perceived erroneously as being on the verge of bankruptcy. Both Congress and the nation, however, must seek solutions to the cash-flow difficulties of the system. (Author/AOS)

Data from reports of the federally funded Child Service Demonstration Centers (CSDCs) are said to show that only three CSDCs adhered to all criteria in the federal definition of learning disabilities. The author suggests that LD should be adopted as a generic term for all mild handicaps. (CL)

Principle work of 23 state geological surveys is summarized. Work includes mapping/estimating coal resources, centralizing data in National Coal Resources Data System through cooperative programs, exploration drilling, and others. Comments on U.S. Geological Survey activities, coal-related conferences/meetings, and industry research activities are…

Examines historic functions of young people in the labor force and discusses how social, demographic, and economic changes since the late 1950s have pushed youth into consuming goods and services and prevented them from entering the primary labor market. Focuses in particular on the economic plight of minority youth. (GC)

An evaluation system was designed which directly addresses federal legislation for accountability in vocational education programs. Six criteria were included; three focus on interim evidence of project success, and three address final evidence of project effectiveness. (Author/GK)

William J. Bennett, chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, discusses his views on the role of the humanities in the classroom and on the future direction of the Endowment in an interview with Linda Chavez. (GC)

Shows how evaluation design and federal involvement in Youth Employment Demonstration Projects unintentionally cause a negative appraisal. Indicates the problem stems from interaction of the contract research corporation, the educational research establishment, and the federal bureaucracy, rather than a specific methodology or bureaucratic…

The collaborative effort between university researchers and a CETA sponsor aimed at "knowledge development" in employment and training services for disadvantaged out-of-school youth is described. Discussion is included concerning the feasibility of experimental evaluation for youth employment programs in a local setting. (Author/GK)

This article describes the breadth of federal support for educational knowledge production and application. Support from the Education Division of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare is discussed in detail. (Author/MC)

Efforts to determine the effectiveness of federal youth employment training programs have indicated that positive results are accompanied by persistent problems. Available from: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Rm. 456 GHI Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20250. (JD)

This article describes the National Diffusion Network (NDN), which was developed by the U.S. Office of Education to disseminate exemplary educational programs. Also discussed are five NDN programs which have been adopted by Catholic schools. (SJL)

Discusses the political and economic factors that lay behind a federal mandate for evaluation of the 4-H program. Reviews the themes of other articles in this journal issue dealing with various aspects of the evaluation. (GC)

Briefly describes the content, organization, and multiple influences on the 4-H program in relation to a national program evaluation. Discusses influences of the sponsors and evaluators on the evaluation and problems encountered because of competing values and perceptions. Reviews evaluation findings and speculates on the utilization of the…

Considers the methodology, findings, and conclusions of three studies conducted by Stephen Epler, Louis Bender, and James Perkins, which evaluated the Junior College Leadership Program. The project was funded from 1959 through 1974 to establish university programs for the preparation of two-year college administrators. (DML)

The Department of Education does not originate policy and it has little chance of streamlining administration of federal programs. (Author)