ABSTRACT
T h e p r e s i d e n t ’s 1979 education budget, in marked contrast to its recent predecessors, proposes substantial spending increases and sev eral new initiatives. Although it may be premature to talk with cer tainty about the new administration’s education policy, the budget is, in fact, the single most important policy statement In addition, sev eral events of the last year contributed to the accumulation of deci sions and actions that collectively constitute policy: (1 ) expiring legislation provided an opportunity for the administration to develop reauthorization proposals for most elementary and secondary educa tion programs; (2 ) congressional interest in tuition tax credits forced a review of existing student aid policy in a search for alternatives; and (3 ) President Carter’s decision to create a department of education gave rise to active investigation of reorganization options. This chap ter examines each of these topics together with the 1979 budget re quest in order to form a tentative judgment on the nature and direc tion of the Carter administration’s education policy.
