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FOR RELEASE AT 12:00 NOON, EST March 3, 1970 Office of the White House Press Secretary FACT SHEET PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE TO THE CONGRESS ON EDUCATION REFORM The National Institute of Education: The legislation would create a new agency within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Its primary purpose is to conduct high quality research and experimentation in education. It would have the authority to do its own research, as well as to contract with universities and other organizations. Existing research programs in the Office of Education would gradually move to the National Institute. It would be staffed by a corps of distinguished scientists and social scientists, and would devote itself to work in fields such as compensatory education, applications of technology to education, reading and literacy, and experimental schools. The President's Commission on School Finance: Established by Executive Order, this Commission will be in existence for two years. It will study, and develop recommendations on, the fiscal and organizational needs of public and non-public schools in the United States. Working closely with the States, the Commission will assess trends in school enrollments, financial projections, disparities among districts and states, present and future sources of funds, and possible improvements in efficiency. It will pay particular attention to non-public schools. The Right to Read: The President endorses the Right to Read as a national educational goal for the 1970's. The National Institute of Education will assist in developing the necessary knowledge to achieve this goal. In addition, the President will ask Congress to increase to $200 million the combined F. Y. 1971 appropriation for Titles II and III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and asks the Commissioner of Education to help ensure that these funds are focused on reading. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting: The legislation would renew the Federal charter of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for three years, enabling the Corporation to continue growing and improving. It would require that a portion of the annual Federal funding be based on matching funds raised by the Corporation from non-Federal sources, thereby stimulating increased contributions from private sources. Early Learning: An Early Learning Program, to be established jointly by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and the Office of Economic Opportunity, would create a network of experimental centers to discover what works best in early childhood education. Funded out of the $52 million previously requested for early childhood educational research in Fiscal 1971, these centers would provide a strong experimental base for the large day care program requested as part of the Family Assistance Plan. # # #