Grease the Squeaky Wheel. A Report on the Implementation of Title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, Grants to Strengthen State Departments of Education / Jerome T. Murphy.

This study of the impact of unrestricted federal aid on State bureaucracies describes how federal money was spent in nine SEA's (particularly in Massachusetts, New York, and South Carolina). It also examines whether Title V promoted a rethinking of SEA priorities and led to a "thorough overhaul" of SEA activities. Study findings reveal that, while SEA budgets and staffs doubled between 1965 and 1970 (one fifth of the 1970 dollars coming from Title V), SEA strengthening varied significantly from State to State. In New York and Massachusetts, the Title V outcome took the form of marginal adaptations of ongoing activities in procedures, activities, or roles; while in South Carolina, marked changes took place. However, the author notes that in none of these States did Title V stimulate a rethinking of priorities or promote a thorough overhaul of activities. Even in South Carolina, Title V failed to promote basic change, but rather acted as a facilitator for a SEA that was "ready to go." The report explores explanations for the failures of Title V and concludes that the underlying reasons why Title V failed to promote basic institutional change may have as much to do with the way complex organizations typically behave with free money as it does with particular institutional or individual shortcomings. An extensive bibliography is appended. (Page 355 may reproduce poorly. Page 424 is either missing, or the pages have been misnumbered.) (Author/JF)

Microfiche. [Washington D.C.]: ERIC Clearinghouse microfiches : positive.