b. Grants to States for supervision and administration: 1966 estimate__ 1967 estimate.. $7,500,000 7,500,000 Increase_ JUSTIFICATION OF ESTIMATE As a second part of the title III program to improve public school instruction, matching grants to States are provided for State supervisory and related services and administration costs. Reallotment of funds is also authorized as in the acquisition program. The strengthening of specialist supervisory services is the key to effective efforts to upgrade instruction. State supervision, with its emphasis on inservice training and direct consultation with local education officials, offers the best insurance that maximum results will be obtained from the purchase of equipment and instructional materials. Results of strong State supervision programs are improved courses of study incorporating the use of the latest equipment and materials, better trained teachers, longer subject sequences, and introduction of advanced courses. When the program began there were only 32 State specialist supervisors in science, mathematics, and modern foreign languages. There are now 254 such specialists-107 in science, 93 in mathematics, and 54 in modern foreign languages. However, only 119 supervisors serve the subject areas of history, economics, civics, geography, English, and reading. Explanation of requirements An amount of $7,500,000 is requested for 1967, the same amount as appropriated for fiscal year 1966. This amount would enable States to maintain their increases in staff for the new subject areas. Grants to States for supervision and administration—TITLE III The purpose of the graduate fellowship program is to (1) increase the number of persons preparing for and entering professional careers as college or university teachers, (2) encourage the development and full utilization of the capacities of graduate programs leading to the doctorate, and (3) promote a wider geographical distribution of such programs. These aims are met by the awarding of fellowships to qualified graduate students and accompanying grants to help defray the costs of their education to the institutions where they are studying. It is expected that the 1965 college enrollment will reach 5.4 million, an 8percent increase over 1964, and that 8.6 million will be enrolled in 1975. Furthermore, although nearly 51 percent of higher education faculty currently hold doctorates, only 30 percent of the newly hired teachers during recent years hold this degree. The 1967 estimate of $81,957,000 will help to close the widening gap between the need for well-qualified college teachers and the insufficient supply. Program for fiscal years 1965 and 1966 In fiscal year 1965, nearly $31,400,000 was obligated. This sum will support 5,883 fellowships during academic year 1965-66 and 2,350 fellows during the summer of 1965. In 1966, $55,961,000 will support 6,000 new fellows at the firstyear level, 3,000 continuing fellows at the second-year level, and 1,494 fellows at the third- or terminal-year level. Additionally, a part of the sum will support an estimated 5,400 fellows in short-term programs during the summer of 1966. Explanation of requirements Expansion of the program to about 15,000 fellows, including 6,000 new awards. in academic year 1967-68 will raise funding requirements to $81,957,000. The summer session for 1967, involving approximately 9,445 enrollees, will also be funded by the 1967 appropriation. Without substantial evidence to the contrary it is expected that about 90 percent of the fellows in academic year 1966-67 will elect to take their summer enrollment option. This is based on the fact that graduate study is normally a year-round operation. Title V (A) authorizes matching grants to States for establishing, maintaining, and improving guidance, counseling, and testing programs in public elementary and secondary schools, junior colleges, and technical institutions. The Commissioner arranges for the testing of nonpublic school students in those States which are prohibited by law from operating such a program in their public schools-$24,500,000 is requested for fiscal year 1967, the same amount as that appropriated for fiscal year 1966. The objective of this program is to make available to every public elementary and secondary school student and students in junior colleges and technical institutions a qualified counselor properly provided with up-to-date resource materials. The present national goal for the secondary school counselor-student ratio is 1:300. To achieve this ratio in fiscal 1967 would require approximately 20,000 additional counselors. To achieve the same desirable ratio in junior colleges and technical institutions would require about 3,000 additional counselors. Recognizing that elementary guidance is in its infancy, a desirable counselor-student ratio would be 1:400, but in individual school situations this ratio could vary considerably. To achieve this ratio of 1: 400 would require about 60,000 additional counselors. With only approximately 1,500 full-time-equivalent counselors employed in the elementary schools, their counselor-student ratio is now about 1:17,000. Most school systems are in the process of determining the types of services best suited to their individual needs and the most appropriate staffing patterns to provide these services. At present only slightly more than 20 percent of the public elementary schools have the benefit of more than 1 day per week of services by guidance counselors. Program accomplishments A steady improvement in counselor-student ratios has been made in the public secondary schools. The national ratios during the first 7 years of the program and the estimated ratios for fiscal years 1966 and 1967 are as follows: In addition, members of professional guidance staffs in State educational agencies have increased 240 percent since the NDEA has been in effect-from 99 to over 340. Explanation of requirements Every year States overmatch Federal expenditures under this program many times-in fiscal year 1964 the overmatching was 10 to 1; and full utilization is made of the appropriation each year. With this record and the great unmet needs for counseling services at the elementary school level, the States will make effective use of the full amount requested. The Commissioner is authorized to arrange with institutions of higher education for the operation of institutes to improve the qualifications of personnel engaged, or teachers preparing to engage, in counseling and guidance of students in elementary schools, secondary schools, and in institutions of higher education including junior colleges and technical institutes. The law provides funds for the operational costs of the institutes and the payment of stipends to enrollees at the rate of $75 per week plus $15 per week for each dependent. Explanation of requirements About 20,000 additional counselors are needed to meet the goal of a 1:300 secondary school guidance counselor-pupil ratio. Furthermore, the seriousness of school dropout and youth unemployment problems points up the need for continued expansion and improvement in the availability of guidance counseling services. Through a pilot effort a beginning will be made in preparation of guidance personnel to provide services designed for elementary schools. The full authorization of $7,250,000 is requested for 1967 to continue the inroads made in these critical shortage areas. The following table shows comparable data for fiscal years 1966 and 1967. Regular session: Number of institutes. Number of enrollees.. Institutes for secondary, junior college, and technical institute counselors: 4 5 8 240. 12. 360 1966 estimate 1967 estimate Increase $5,080,000 14, 000, 000 |