needed and where needed for sound decision making for America's educational enterprise. This compilation of summaries of State plan provisions and program activities during the first two years of the Act was undertaken in order that all those interested in the improvement of statistical services might have the benefit of noting the major program areas and the scope and depth of program activities. Amendments to State plans are also reviewed, since they reflect changes and expansions conditioned by the experiences gained in actual program operations. During the remaining period of this 4-year Act the States will no doubt continue to build upon the strong beginnings made thus far. Although the task of developing a nationwide intercommunicating system of educational information cannot be accomplished under the modest provisions and the 4-year span of the Act, it may be confidently expected that the accomplishments and experience will serve as keystones for continuing progress. The Office of Education sincerely appreciates the excellent cooperation of chief State school officers and personnel of their statistical services staffs who reviewed and approved materials for this publication. FRED F. BEACH Director, Administration of State and Local School Systems E. GLENN FEATHERSTON Assistant Commissioner Division of State and Local School Systems 5. Effective Date of State Plan and Amount of Federal Funds Requested under Section 1009, Title X, by State: Fiscal Year 1961 164 Highlights Section 1009, title X of the National Defense Education Act, provides annual Federal funds of up to $50,000 per State for the improvement of statistical services in State education agencies. Federal funds are matched dollar for dollar by State funds. Eligible for participation under this section are the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Canal Zone, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Forty-five State plans were approved by June 30, 1959, and 29 States requested and received a total of $366,544 in Federal funds during the first fiscal year. By June 30, 1960, 5 additional State plans were approved and 45 States requested and received a total of $1,128,710 for fiscal year 1960, with 12 States receiving the maximum amount of $50,000 each in Federal funds. As of December 1, 1960, 52 State plans were approved. Among the major activities included in State plans are: the evaluation of existing statistical services; the addition of personnel; the improvement of organization for statistical services; the implementation of standard terminology and units of measure; the addition or expansion of facilities for automatic data processing; the training of State and local personnel; the improvement of data analysis and interpretations; and the improvement in dissemination of information about education. A majority of the State education agencies are taking initial steps toward the installation or expansion of automatic data processing equipment. At the inception of the current Act, 13 States were utilizing such equipment to some extent; as of the close of the 1960 fiscal year, 38 States had either installed or made definite plans to install machine systems. |