HIGHLIGHTS Cooperative Research is a partnership in which Federal support is provided for educational research and research-related activities conducted outside the Office of Education. This partnership was authorized by the Cooperative Research Act in 1954 and initially funded with $1 million in fiscal year 1957. The Act, as subsequently expanded, was the source of $66.6 million in fiscal. year 1968 obligations. Support is used to round out a balanced program of educational research, development, demonstration, dissemination of research results, and training of educational researchers. Funds also are authorized for acquiring, constructing, and equipping educational research facilities. In fiscal year 1968, more than 800 separate educational research activities, ranging from small projects to a nationwide network of educational laboratories, were supported under the Cooperative Research Act. Highlights follow: ■More than $22 million was given to 20 educational laboratories to further their efforts to create and demonstrate tested alternatives that local educators may adopt to strengthen and advance their programs. ■More than $13 million was provided to support a broad spectrum of research and development center-type activities, including nine centers performing sustained and in-depth research on major teaching and learning problems, two making studies of future educational needs and alternatives, and a group of institutions coordinating their centertype efforts in early childhood education. The Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) network of clearinghouses collected and disseminated educational research information in 19 substantive areas (12 with support from Cooperative Research and the remainder from other authorizations). The monthly journal, Research in Education, which publishes abstracts of recently completed research and newly funded research projects, indexed by subject, author, and institution, reached a paid circulation of more than 4,500. Direct research training was provided for almost 2,300 individuals, 830 in full-time programs and the remainder in institutes and other intensive short-term programs. Support for individual research projects totaled more than $21.5 mil. lion and provided answers to a variety of educational needs for improved materials and techniques and for achievement and survey information. OE-12043 Progress in Education Through: Research Development Training A summary of educational research Fiscal Year 1968 Annual Report U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE Robert H. Finch, Secretary James E. Allen, Jr., Assistant Secretary and Commissioner of Education |