Educational Policy in the Carter Years. Institute for Educational Leadership Policy Paper 5.

Two articles and a transcript of a colloquium discussion by seven practitioners/experts on the topic of educational policy in the Carter years are presented. The discussion group considered Carter's first year, zero-based budgeting, dimensions of leadership, the fiscal year 1979 budget, reorganization and a Department of Education, and the prospects to 1984. An article by Samuel Helperin discusses salient features of American education, the federal government's roles in formulating educational policy, external social forces, influences on Congressional action on educational issues, and prescription for improving the system. An article by George R. Kaplan considers federal educational policy in the second year of the Carter Presidency. The federal government's influence over the jurisdictions through legislation, federal court action, and administrative regulation is noted. The federal government has had a dominant position regarding research and development, equal opportunity, and educational reform. Congressional involvement in education; the possibility of the creation of a Department of Education; and the influence of an inner cadre of 10 or 12 main educational policy-movers of the Executive Branch are considered. (SW)