One principal set of obstacles preventing public education from having shown more progress in realizing the national objective of equal educational opportunity has to do with the way schools are financed. Resolving problems of school finance is, U.S. Commissioner of Education Allen says, an absolute essential in achieving equal opportunity. Some national school financial data are given in this speech. The role of the Federal and State governments in solving schools' financial problems is clarified, and the great need for a comprehensive, purposeful plan for financial support of public education is underscored. Allen stressed the importance of developing new measures of educational productivity, of what children learn, to help gain financial support from the public. (NH)