Program for 1967

In 1967, 645 grants will be awarded for foreign language and area studies, representing a 70-percent increase over the number of individuals supported in 1966. Of the 280 grants for overseas research and study, 170 will be awarded to graduate students preparing to become teachers, 75 will be awarded to National Defense Education Act faculty members, and 35 will be awarded to professors and high school specialists.

A new foreign studies extension program will be initiated in 1967: 14 grants averaging $25,000 will be awarded to American institutions of higher education to carry out activities overseas which will extend and improve curriculum in modern foreign language or area studies. This program will support 175 participants.

The number of awards to secondary school specialists to attend summer seminars abroad will decrease by 50. University sponsored seminars abroad supported by the foreign studies extension program described above, however, will more than offset this decrease.

While five additional American school districts or State departments of education will receive the services of a foreign language or area studies specialist, the 1967 program will also make it possible for 20 National Defense Education Act centers to benefit from the knowledge of these experts.

The requested increase of $22,300 will allow a total of $81,300 for overseas support services for the expanded program.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1966.

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

WITNESSES

NORMAL KARSH, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION

HAROLD HOWE II, COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION

ALEXANDER M. MOOD, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS

JAMES A. TURMAN, ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR FIELD SERVICES

JOE G. KEEN, BUDGET OFFICER

JAMES B. CARDWELL, DEPARTMENT DEPUTY COMPTROLLER

1 Selected resources as of June 30 are as follows: unpaid undelivered orders, 1964, $1,796 thousand (1965 adjustments-$33 thousand); 1965, $2,773 thousand; 1966, $3,373 thousand; 1967, $3,373 thousand.

Mr. FOGARTY. We will now take up "Salaries and expenses." Who will justify that?

Mr. KARSH. Mr. Chairman, this is the first time I have appeared before the committee, and I wondered if you wanted my biography submitted for the record?

Mr. FOGARTY. Yes. Put it in the record.

(The following was submitted for the record:)

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF NORMAN KARSH

Norman Karsh was appointed Assistant Commissioner for Administration in the Office of Education, in September 1965. During the 2 years prior to this appointment, he served as the Peace Corps' Director of Budget and Finance. Mr. Karsh was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on November 24, 1924. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942 to 1945. Following Mr. Karsh's return to civilian life, he attended Syracuse University where he received a B.A. degree in political science. In September 1949, he enrolled at Columbia University and received a M.A. degree in economics.

Mr. Karsh began his career with the Federal Government in 1951 as a budget examiner with the Navy Department's Bureau of Ships, and was promoted to the position of budget officer for the shipbuilding program.

In 1956, he transferred to the Atomic Energy Comission where he served as manpower officer, developing systems to measure utilization and effectiveness of all organizational components and staff.

From 1960 to 1962, Mr. Karsh worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense where, as a budget officer, he reviewed the logistics budgets of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. In this capacity he was responsible for recommending to the Secretary of Defense, alternative courses of action to effect savings or improved operations. One such recommendation was instrumental in leading to the establishment of the Defense Supply Agency.

In 1962, he was assigned to the then newly created Defense Supply Agency as the Chief of the Management Evaluation Division, where he developed a reporting and review system for Defense-wide logistical operations.

Mr. Karsh is married to the former Laura Fay Schoenback, of New Jersey, and they have two children, Edward M. and Lynne D.

Mr. FOGARTY. Please proceed with your statement.

GENERAL STATEMENT

Mr. KARSH. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, the fiscal year 1967 request for "Salaries and expenses" totals $41,563,000 and will provide for 2,740 positions in the Office of Education. This represents slightly more than 1 percent of the total funds being requested for all programs being administered.

Since the Office of Education appeared before this committee last year, there have been major changes in its organization and its staffing. The number of witnesses appearing before you for the first time this year, of which I am one, is the best evidence of these changes.

We are now organized along the lines that parallel what we believe to be the direction of the many new and exciting programs enacted by the Congress in the past 2 years. Major legislation has earmarked assistance to the various levels of the education community, such as elementary and secondary schooling, higher education, and adult and vocational schools. We have established three such Bureaus within the Office and in addition, a Bureau of Research to coordinatt all research activities. We believe that this organization, directly related to the legislative authorizations, will best permit us to review the total effort of each level of education and in so doing, identify the current and future needs.

In addition to the normal staff offices found in all organizations, we have also the National Center for Educational Statistics which was established in January 1965 to upgrade the statistical effort of the Office; the Office of Disadvantaged and Handicapped, whose primary function is to coordinate all programs dealing with the education of the disadvantaged and the handicapped; and the Office of Equal Educational Opportunities, to administer the compliance function of the Civil Rights Act and assure that Office of Education funds will be used without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, or national origin. Our fiscal year 1967 budget reflects an increased requirement for $11,445,000 and 548 positions. The primary reasons for this increase are as follows:

(a) Cost of 548 new positions in fiscal year 1967.

(b) Annualization of positions authorized in fiscal year 1966-

(c) New data gathering and contracts for educational statistics and

machine processing---

(d) Studies and contracts__

(e) Miscellaneous__

Total----

$4,677, 000 3,023, 000

3,250,000 477,000 18, 000

11, 445, 000

The increased positions are, in good part, related to the new programs recently enacted. In the first year of implementing a program, manpower is required to establish guidelines, regulations, operating procedures, and the review of applications. In fiscal year 1967, we will be entering that phase of program implementation that requires us to review the status of projects already begun, as well as the review on the current year's proposals. The volume of individual projects underway will increase cumulatively with the attendant increase in all aspects of administration. But the primary increase will be in the expansion of field services. Our major thrust will be the decentralization of many of the functions of the Office of Education to the field. By doing so, we will provide on-the-spot assistance to State and local educational agencies and will minimize the involvement of the Washington office in the day-to-day operations.

My colleagues and I will be glad to answer any questions you may have.

SUMMARY OF BUDGET REQUEST

Mr. FOGARTY. The adjusted appropriation for 1966 is $30,118,000 and the request for 1967 is $41,563,000, an increase of $11,445,000. The increase is composed of about $3 million for mandatory cost increases, mostly the annualization of new positions filled for only part of 1966; and $8,442,000 for program increase, of which over half is for 548 new positions.

Mr. KARSH. That is correct.

JUSTIFICATION FOR NEW POSITIONS

Mr. FOGARTY. Right or wrong, the argument is sure to be made that when all the new legislation was passed last year we gave you 634 new positions.

Mr. KARSH That is correct.

Mr. FOGARTY. The new programs were only in effect part of the year and these positions were only filled part of the year. In 1967, the programs will be in effect all year and we should give you enough funds to keep those new positions filled all year, but why should we approve a lot of new ones?

I want you to take your time and give us a real good answer on this because everybody looks at these additional positions in these appropriation requests and 634 last year and 548 this year will really stand out.