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Background
Several bills are currently pending before the United States Committee on Governmental Affairs that would consolidate existing education programs into one executive-level department.
Arguments for a cabinet-level department of education seem clear and compelling. During the 1977–78 academic year, for example, total expenditures for education at all levels in the United States are expected to reach $144 billion and to affect the lives of 63.7 million Americans for whom education will be a major occupation.
While federal interest in education has been evident both in direct funding of education-related research and development activities and in special aid to education at the preschool, school, and college level, the impact of this commitment has been dissipated by a lack of coordination and planning. Be it therefore
Resolution
Resolved, that the National Council of Teachers of English urge the establishment of a Department of Education within the Executive Branch of government headed by a cabinet-level Secretary of Education;
that NCTE transmit this resolution to President Carter, Senator Abraham Ribicoff, Chairman of the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the United States Senate, and to other appropriate governmental officials;
that NCTE actively solicit the support of other professional organizations for this resolution; and
that NCTE urge its members and affiliates to campaign among their governmental representatives and the general public for the creation of a cabinet-level Department of Education. | 
