JUSTIFICATION OF ESTIMATE Purpose and scope of activity Title VI of the act provides support for language and area centers, modern foreign language fellowships, and research and studies in order to strengthen and improve the teaching of modern foreign languages at all levels of education. These programs are continuing to make available more course offerings and instructional materials, and are encouraging more students to study languages and area subjects, thus providing the Nation with a greater reservoir of language and area specialists. Program accomplishments In fiscal year 1965 support was provided for the continuance of 54 language and area centers, the establishment of 14 graduate and 30 undergraduate centers, and the conduct of 19 summer programs at NDEA centers. These 98 centers in 61 colleges and universities have expanded instruction in more than 70 languages of critical importance and related area studies. The number of centers by world area is as follows: east Asia, 19; Slavic and East European, 18; Latin America, 16; Middle East 11; Africa, 11; south Asia, 9; Asia, 4; Asian-Slavic, 3; Uralic-Altaic, 2; south and southeast Asia, 2; southeast Asia, 2; and northwest Europe, 1. In addition, 1,727 students were awarded language fellowships for advanced training in 64 critical languages and related area studies in 1965. The fellowships were distributed by world area as follows: East Asia, 29 percent; Eastern Europe (including U.S.S.R.), 23 percent; Latin America, 18 percent; Middle East, 14 percent, south Asia, 7 percent; Africa, 6 percent; southeast Asia, 2 percent; and Western Europe, 1 percent. Graduate fellowships represented 1,320 of the total of 1,727 awards; undergraduate stipends, 389; and postdoctoral fellowships, 18. Research supported under title VI has had significant impact on modern foreign language instruction at all levels of education. An estimated 6 to 7 million students of foreign language at all levels of education are receiving some direct or indirect impact from the program. Research results are also utilized in the language and area centers and in the title XI language institutes. Through fiscal year 1965 work had been undertaken in over 125 languages. Explanation of requirements $15,800,000 is requested for this title in 1967. Included in the estimate is $5,830,000 for language and area centers representing an increase of $750,000 over 1966. This increase will provide (1) $420,000 for expansion of existing centers to strengthen their course offerings and staff, (2) $240,000 to establish 8 new language and area centers selected from the substantial backlog of institutions which have worked diligently to prepare themselves to incorporate langauge and area studies into their basic educational programs, and (3) $90,000 to meet pressing requirements for growth of the 24 summer programs at existing centers and to provide for 1 additional summer program. An amount of $6,870,000 or an increase of $750,000, is requested for foreign language fellowships. An increase of $543,000 will raise the number of graduate fellowships from 1,400 at an average cost of $3,855 in 1966 to 1,540 at an average cost of $3,860, in 1967. An increase of $107,000 will provide an additional 110 undergraduate stipends of $925 to be used for intensive summer study in certain critical langauges. The programs of academic year and summer postdoctoral awards will continue for intensive study of Arabic, Chinese, Hindi-Urdu, Japanese, Indonesian, and related area studies at NDEA centers; an increase of $100,000 is requested for 1967 so that the number of awards can be raised from 25 in fiscal year 1966 to 35 in fiscal year 1967. These awards enable faculty of 4-year colleges to acquire special qualifications for teaching and administrative positions in non-Western undergraduate programs. An appropriation of $3,100,000 is requested for 1967 representing an increase of $300,000 for research. Expansion of language and area center offerings, encouraged by the modern foreign language fellowship program for specialists in the critical languages, depends upon the availability of adequate learning tools— basic courses, grammars, readers, and dictionaries. Despite the number of basic courses and linguistic analyses which are being produced, adequate materials are still not available for some languages in Africa and Asia. These instructional materials can be produced with additional funds and the gradual increase in trained researchers. The researchers can also study the psychology of language learning, uses of programed instruction, and other language learning and teaching aids. Of the funds requested, about 30 percent will be used to continue and bring to completion research projects initiated in previous years. The remaining 70 percent will be allocated to new research. It is estimated that 92 new contracts or supplementals will be negotiated in fiscal year 1967. (b) Expansion funds available per unit for the 98 centers at an average 4,670,000 (c) 8 new centers at an average cost of $30,000. (d) 24 summer programs at an average cost of $17,080.. 420, 000 240,000 410,000 500,000 2. Stipends for language fellowships, total cost.. (a) Graduate fellowships: (i) 1,400 in 1966 at an average cost of $3,855. (b) Postdoctoral awards: (i) 25 in 1966 at an average cost of $11,000. (c) Undergraduate summer stipends: (i) 490 in 1966 at $915. (ii) 600 in 1967 at $925 6. Educational media research: 1966 estimate_. 1967 estimate_ Increase_ JUSTIFICATION OF ESTIMATE Purpose and scope of activity Title VII of the act authorizes grants and contracts for research and dissemination of information on the educational uses of such communications media as television, radio, audiovisual materials, and printed and published materials. To carry out these provisions, an appropriation of $4,400,000 is requested for 1967. Program accomplishments Since 1959, approximately 350 research projects have been supported of which 195 will have been completed through fiscal year 1966. Media research has clustered around three main emphases: (a) The application of new communications media for improved teaching in all subject areas and grade levels; (b) studies concerning the design and general use of teaching media; and (c) development of materials and procedures for the training of teachers in the more effective use of the newer communications media. Indicative of the numerous beneficial results obtained from the research program are a filmed test predicting teacher effectiveness developed by the Oregon State System of Higher Education and a self-instructional program useful in training medical students to diagnose some forms of cancer, developed by the Medical College of Georgia. In the media dissemination program such vehicles as studies, surveys, visualized reports via film and videotape, printed documents including catalogs, reviews, bibliographies, abstracts, and analyses of research and actual demonstrations are being used to inform educators and the public of innovative uses of the newer media. Demonstrations in particular are extremely effective dissemination devices. They dispel the suspicion that practitioners commonly feel toward research results. Conducted in schools similar to the visitor's own, they are visible proof that research-based practices will work in real situations. In additions, the observer has an opportunity to talk to participants, evaluate the demonstration, and adapt it to his own local educational situation. 60-302-66-21 Explanation of requirements For research $1,800,000 is requested, of which $500,000 for continuation costs. The evidence from completed projects has identified major program areas in which it is desirable to initiate a carefully articulated series of contract programs. The first priority for support of research projects in 1967 will be programmatic research contracts on guidelines for improved production and design of instructional media, improved uses of new media in teacher education, the design and use of new media to assist in retaining potential dropouts in school, the use of new media in more effective instruction of mental retardates, and the design and use of new media for creatively gifted children. Second priority will be given to support of institutional research grants in school districts and institutions of higher education which will assist applicants to translate basic research findings into improved teaching practices in their own instruction; and for small grants intended to launch pilot or exploratory studies which will identify areas for extended media research efforts. For the media dissemination program $2,600,000 is requested, of which $600,000 is for continuation costs. Specific emphasis will be given to identifying the critical elements affecting the adoption and use of newer educational media by schools and by State departments of education, implementing research findings through support of demonstration activities, determining the needs for media research in critical areas such as education of the disadvantaged and vocational educational, and developing a national educational media statistics program to compile accurate and comprehensive data. 7. Grants to States for statistical services: 1966 estimate__. 1967 estimate___ Increase_ $2,250,000 2,250,000 JUSTIFICATION OF ESTIMATE Purpose and scope of activity Section 1009 of the National Defense Education Act provides grants to State educational agencies to assist States to improve (a) the adequacy and reliability of educational statistics provided by State and local records and reports, and (b) the methods and techniques for collecting and processing educational data and disseminating information about the condition and progress of education in the States. Grants are authorized to any State for one-half the cost of its programs for improving educational statistics, but no State may be paid more than $50,000 for any fiscal year. These programs must be new, expansions of, or additions to existing programs. Evidence of need As the American educational enterprise has grown in scope and complexity, the necessity for clearcut decisionmaking about education has been intensified. Decisions involving the formation of basic educational policy, the determination of short-range and long-range educational plans, and the day-to-day operation and management of quality educational programs must constantly be made. A prerequisite to all such decisions is a body of comparable, accurate, comprehensive, and current information about all facets of the educational program. The State educational agency plays a key role in the collecting, processing, and dissemination of educational information. Although these agencies serve as the recorders of some basic data, most educational statistics originate and are recorded at the local level and are then channeled to the State agency where they are processed and transmitted to other users. Statistical services in State educational agencies have been among the last areas to receive attention and support during the impressive growth and maturity of these agencies. Educational statistics have been subjected to recurring criticism because of lack of comparability, adequacy, and timeliness. Because of the national interest in sound educational data, it is essential to provide cooperative support to these prime suppliers of data on elementary and secondary education. Program accomplishments, fiscal year 1966 It is anticipated that 53 State educational agencies will use $2,250,000 in Federal funds during fiscal year 1966. These agencies will continue to build upon the basic improvements which were made in the early years of this program. Complete evaluations of statistical services programs have resulted in improved organizations, more and better trained staff members, revision of data collection procedures, and tremendous expansion in the use of automatic dataprocessing systems. Program for fiscal year 1967 State educational agencies will continue to implement plans for basic improvements in State statistical services facilities and operations and in State and local educational records and reports. Tabulation of Federal grant funds by State, fiscal years 1965, 1966, and 1967, section 1009 title X, National Defense Education Act of 1958 (Public Law 85-864), improvement of statistical services of State education agencies Title XI authorizes the Commissioner of Education to arrange, through grants or contracts with institutions of higher education, for the conduct of short-term or regular session institutes of advanced study for individuals who are (1) engaged in or preparing to engage in the teaching, or supervising or training of teachers, of modern foreign languages, English, reading, English as a foreign language, history, geography, or disadvantaged youth in elementary or secondary schools, or are (2) preparing to become school librarians or educational media specialists. The Higher Education Act of 1965 has expanded the program to include economics, civics, and industrial arts, and has increased the authorization to $50 million beginning in 1966. Each individual attending an institute is eligible to receive a stipend of $75 per week plus $15 per week for each dependent. Program accomplishments In 1965 an amount of $29,429,384 was allocated for 493 institutes to train 20,427 teachers in the authorized areas; in 1966 the available $34,897,000 will support approximately 585 institutes for 23,985 teachers. Panels of experts from the professional areas involved evaluate and rate the institute proposals. Quality proposals have exceeded substantially the number of institutes that can be financed. Final selection is also made on the basis of need and geographical distribution. Explanation of requirements for fiscal year 1967 A total of $40 million is requested for 1967 to support about 670 institutes with approximately 28,000 participants. Distribution of the institutes among the 12 areas of specialization will be determined with the assistance of consultants, based on quality, need, and geographic distribution, as well as program experience during fiscal years 1965 and 1966. Senator HILL. Mr. Muirhead, would you address yourself to defense educational activities? Mr. MUIRHEAD. I have a statement which I should like to read, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, for the National Defense Education Act we are requesting an amount of $273,544,000, a net decrease of $139,064,000 from the 1966 appropriation of $412,608,000. The estimate will enable State and local educational agencies and colleges and universities to continue to strengthen and improve education in certain critical areas. |