white house conference on education

white house conference on education Sec. 804. (a) The President is authorized to call and conduct a White House Conference on Education in 1977 (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Conference”) in order to stimulate a national assessment of the condition, needs, and goals of education and to obtain from a group of citizens broadly representative of all aspects of education, both public and non public, a report of findings and recommendations with respect to such assessment, (b) (1) In carrying out the provisions of this section, participants in conferences and other activities at local, State, and Federal levels are authorized to consider all matters relevant to the purposes of the Conference set forth in subsection (a), but shall give special consideration to the following: (A) The implementation of the policy set forth in section 801. (B) The means by which educational systems are financed. (C) Preschool education (including child care and nutrition programs), with special attention to the needs of disadvantaged children. 88 Stat. 598 (D) The adequacy of primary education in providing all children with the fundamental skills of communication (reading, writing, spelling, and other elements of effective oral and written expression) and mathematics. (E) The effectiveness of secondary education in preparing students for careers, as well as for postsecondary education. (F) The place of occupational education (including education in proprietary schools) in the educational structure and the role of vocational and technical education in assuring that the Nation’s requirements for skilled manpower are met. (G) The structure and needs of postsecondary education, including methods of providing adequate levels of student assistance and institutional support. (H) The adequacy of education at all levels in meeting the special educational needs of such individuals as handicapped persons, economically disadvantaged, racially or culturally isolated children, those who need bilingual instruction, and gifted and talented children. (I) Ways of developing and implementing expanded educational opportunities for adults at the basic and secondary education equivalency levels. (J) The contribution of nonpublic primary and secondary education in providing alternate educational experiences for pupils and a variety of options for parents in guiding their children’s development. (2) Participants in conference activities at the State and local levels are authorized to narrow the scope of their deliberations to the educational problems which they consider to be most critical in their respective areas, but shall be encouraged by the National Conference Committee (established pursuant to subsection (c)) to consider such problems in the context, or the total educational structure. (c) (1) There is established a National Conference Committee (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Committee”), composed of not more than thirty-five members, fifteen of whom shall be appointed by the President, ten of whom shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, and ten of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Committee shall at its first meeting select a Chairman and a Vice Chairman. (2) (A) The Committee shall provide guidance and planning for the Conference and shall make a final report (and such interim reports as may be desirable) of the results, findings, and recommendations of the Conference to the President and to the Congress not later than December 1, 1977. (B) The Committee is authorized to provide such assistance as may be necessary for State and local conference activities in preparation for the National Conference. (3) The Commissioner shall support the activities of the Committee by providing technical assistance, advice, and consultation. (4) Members of the Committee shall serve without compensation, but may receive travel expenses (including per diem in lieu of subsistence) as authorized by section 5703(b) of title 5, United States Code, for persons in the Government service employed intermittently, while employed in the business of the Committee away from their homes or regular places of business. (5) The Committee is authorized to appoint, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, a Conference Director and such professional, technical, and clerical personnel as may be necessary to assist in carrying out its functions under this section. 88 Stat. 599 (d) (1) From the sums appropriated pursuant to subsection (e) the Commissioner is authorized to make a grant to each State, upon application of the Governor thereof, in order to assist in meeting the costs of that State’s participation in the Conference program (including the conduct of conferences at the State and local levels). (2) Grants made pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be made only with the approval of the Chairman of the Committee. (3) Funds appropriated for the purposes of this subsection shall be apportioned among the States by the Commissioner in accordance with their respective needs for assistance under this subsection, except that no State shall be apportioned more than $75,000 nor less than $25,000. (e) There are authorized to be appropriated, without fiscal year limitations, such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section; and sums so appropriated shall remain available for expenditure until June 30, 1978. (f) For the purposes of this section, the term “State” includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.