New positions requested for fiscal year 1956 offset by positions in 1955 eliminated

Payments to school districts: For payments to local educational agencies for the maintenance and operation of schools as authorized by the Act of September 30, 1950 [Public Law 874], as amended [$75,000,000] (20 U. S. C. 236–244), $65,000,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall also be available for carrying out the provisions of section 6 of such Act.

Estimated requirements for payments to school districts, Public Law 874 (as amended) fiscal years 1955 and 1956

Assistance for school construction: For an additional amount for providing school facilities and for grants to local educational agencies in federally affected areas, as authorized by [titles] title III [and IV] of the Act of September 23, 1950 (Public Law 815)], as amended by the Act of August 8, 1953, and the Act of August 31, 1954 (20 Ú. S. C. 291-301), including not to exceed [$575,000] $750,000 for necessary expenses of technical services rendered by other agencies, [$118,500,000] $24,000,000, to remain available until expended [, and of which

$12,000,000 shall be available for carrying out title IV of said Act]: Provided, That no part of this appropriation shall be available for salaries or other direct expenses of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare: Provided further, That the sum of $125,000 made available for "technical services rendered by other agencies" under this head in Public Law 357, 83d Congress, shall remain available through June 30, 1955].

EXPLANATION OF LANGUAGE CHANGE

The first change in language deletes title IV of the act of September 30, 1950, which is no longer applicable, and shows amendments "by the Act of August 8, 1953, and the Act of August 31, 1954 (20 U. S. C. 291-301).

The second change in language deletes the phrases "and of which $12,000,000 shall be available for carrying out title IV of said Act," and "Provided further, That the sum of $125,000 made available for 'technical services rendered by other agencies' under this head in Public Law 357, 83d Congress, shall remain available through June 30, 1955," as their continuance is unnecessary.

APPROPRIATION ESTIMATE

WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION

Salaries, expenses,] and [grants] expenses, White House Conference on Education: For carrying out the Act of July 26, 1954 ([Public Law 530] 68 Stat. 532), including services as authorized by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (5 U. S. C. 55a), [$900,000, of which $700,000 shall be for grants to the States in accordance with section 2 of such Act, except that the Commissioner of Education may establish the amount to be allotted to each State without regard to the limitation established by said section 2, but no State shall receive less than $5,000: Provided, That none of the funds granted to any State may be used to compensate any person for their personal services: Provided further, That a Conference Director may be appointed by the Secretary at a salary of not to exceed $12,500 per annum] $200,000.

Senator HILL. We will have next the Office of Education, Dr. Brownell.

All right, Doctor, we will be delighted to have you proceed in your own way, sir.

Your prepared statement will be made part of the record at this point.

(The statement referred to follows:)

STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I appreciate the opportunity to appear before this committee to discuss the several programs administered by the Office of Education. The Office of Education occupies a unique position. Its services are intended to help make better and more efficient education in the United States, but without controlling or interfering with the responsibility of local, State, or private educational agencies.

The

The size of the educational enterprise in the United States is immense. Almost 1 out of every 4 persons-man, woman, and child-in the United States is attending school this year. Increases in enrollment are occurring at every level of schooling. Educational agencies serve persons from infancy to old age. funds expended for educational activities run into billions of dollars each year. The control of educational institutions rests with more than 70,000 public school district boards and boards of higher institutions, plus unnumbered private school or college boards, agencies, and individuals.

In the current examination of the Office of Education program and activities and in projecting expenditures that underlie services of the Office of Education, we are trying to see that each activity helps those who are responsible for education, that priority in help is given to advance solutions of the most important problems, and that help is on request rather than imposed.

Basic to providing helpful information is adequacy and accuracy of facts. Knowledge at the Office of Education is of limited value for education unless it is made available where it is needed and in understandable language. Last year legislation was requested and secured to increase research authority for extending knowledge needed for educators and those who operate educational enterprises. Emphasis during this year is being placed on getting the total research resources of the Office coordinated and developed so as to use the new authorizations effectively, to increase the effectiveness of publications or the publication of educational information, and to develop Office of Education program and services to make the greatest contribution to the most significant problems in education. With the permission of the committee, I should like to confine my opening statement to a highlight of each appropriation request and speak in more detail when the committee considers the individual appropriations.

FURTHER ENDOWMENT OF COLLEGES OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MECHANIC ARTS

The 69 land-grant colleges and universities which now enroll approximately 439,000 students have received for 20 years more than $5 million a year from the Federal Government. $2,550,000 is a permanent appropriation. In addition, approximately $2 million has been appropriated annually by Congress since 1936. The Office of Education serves as the agency for distributing under formulas in the acts the amount which goes to each State. No funds are included in this amount for the administration of this grant or services to the land-grant colleges. The total amount is distributed to the colleges. The needs of the colleges have not diminished. We recommend and request a continuation of the appropriation at $2,501,500.

PROMOTION AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

In fiscal 1955 Congress appropriated $23,673,261 for vocational education grants. This represented an increase of $5 million over the appropriation for fiscal 1954. Reports have been received from a majority of the States concerning use of the additional funds appropriated, which show that the programs have been extended wisely and in accord with congressional intent. Training programs for high schools and adults have been extended by States to additional communities where the needs will be continuing. More information concerning new developments in vocational education will be presented during the discussion of the appropriation request.

We are requesting that the appropriation for this program be continued at the fiscal 1955 level, $23,673,261.

PAYMENTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Public Law 874, which authorized grants to aid in the maintenance and operation of schools in federally affected areas, was extended through fiscal 1956 by Public Law 248, 83d Congress. The basic act was further amended by Public Law 732 to suspend in fiscal 1955 the effective date of the 3 percent absorption provision. Primarily because of the suspension of this provision, a supplemental appropriation of approximately $20 million will be required during the current year. The budget for 1956 does not include funds to continue this suspension.

ASSISTANCE FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION

Public Law 815, 81st Congress, which authorizes grants for school construction in federally affected areas, was amended by Public Law 246 and further amended by Public Law 731 of the 81st Congress.

In fiscal 1955 a supplemental budget approximating $70 million will be submitted in order to pay districts in full the amounts for which they are qualified under the terms of the act.

Twenty-four million dollars is budgeted for fiscal 1956 which, it is now expected, will complete the program authorized under Public Law 731, assuming favorable action is taken on the fiscal 1955 supplemental estimate. Included in the fiscal 1956 budget is $750,000 for technical services to be rendered by the Housing and Home Finance Agency.

SALARIES AND EXPENSES, WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION

Public Law 530, 83d Congress, provided that $700,000 be granted to the States and Territories for State conferences of citizens and educators to face up to their educational problems preparatory to a White House conference to be held not later than November 30, 1955; $200,000 was appropriated for the administrative organization serving the White House Conference Committee.

As of January 19, 1955, 51 States and Territories had indicated their intention to plan State educational conferences. Forty-eight States had taken some official action toward a conference. Six conferences had been held.

Two hundred thousand dollars is budgeted for administration of the program of the White House Conference Committee in fiscal year 1956. The funds are needed to (a) work with State educational conference groups in planning and reporting State conferences, to be of the most use to the White House conference, (b) develop for the White House Conference Committee the technical and related services it requires in preparation for the conference in November 1955, (c) provide for planning and conducting the national conference, and (d) analyze conference findings in preparation for the final report.

COOPERATIVE RESEARCH IN EDUCATION

Educational activities in this country have grown to such proportions, and the problems arising from these activities have become so complex and pressing, that to obtain comprehensive and reliable information about their conditions and needs is hardly possible through the resources of a single agency-Federal, State, or private.

Last year Congress authorized the Office of Education to enter into cooperative research contracts with universities, colleges, and State educational agencies for the conduct of research in the field of education. No funds were made available for this program during the current fiscal year. A committee of research specialists in education has been organized, and procedures for developing and screening research proposals are in process. The proposals will be screened by this committee of research advisers representing colleges, universities, State departments of education, and educational research organizations to determine those most worthy of support.

Two hundred thousand dollars is requested for cooperative research in fiscal 1956. With these funds the Office may tap valuable resources of personnel and facilities existing in colleges, universities, and State departments of education to provide more and better information about education and promote needed research upon educational problems. The amount requested should support from 6 to 9 cooperative research projects.

SALARIES AND EXPENSES, OFFICE OF EDUCATION

The Office of Education has three major functions: First, to engage in research helpful in education; second, to provide educational services to advance the cause of education; and, third, to administer fiscal grants to assist education. During the current fiscal year we are reviewing the work program of the Office and its organizational structure to determine what adjustments are necessary in order to carry out these objectives.

The research program of the Office falls into four categories: (1) recurring reports and technical services; (2) educational research projects by Office staff which are focused upon useful projects to serve the main needs of education; (3) a new authority, cooperative research agreements with colleges, universities, and State educational departments; and (4) assisting the newly authorized Advisory Committee on Education in its commission-type research and advisory functions. The educational services program of the Office is under five categories: (1) Answering inquiries on educational matters from individuals, groups, and Federal, State, and local agencies interested in education; (2) providing professional consultation, advice, and information about education to lay and professional groups through conferences and speeches; (3) consultative services to educational organizations; (4) publishing results of educational studies, statistical data, and other material of value and use to the public and the educational profession; and (5) professional services to international educational organizations and to individuals coming to this country or going to other countries for educational purposes.

In administering its grant programs, the heaviest demands for professional services and administrative assistance are brought about by the vocational education grants program and the school assistance program for federally affectedTM The land-grant college program requires little or no administrative assistApproximately one-half the resources of the Office are devoted to the administration of these grants.

areas. ance.

The modest increase requested for fiscal year 1956 is required to maintain the staff budgeted and provide small increases for printing and other expenses.

REDUCTION IN RESEARCH AND SERVICES

Dr. BROWNELL. I wish that I could present my case with the eloquence of the gentleman who just preceded me. It is always a pleasure to listen to him.

Senator THYE. Dr. Johnson is an enthusiastic person.

Senator HILL. He is eloquent, too, as Dr. Brownell says.

Dr. BROWNELL. I appreciate this chance to appear before the committee.

The House Appropriations Committee approved appropriations for the four grant programs administered by the Office in the amounts that