This outline contains a description of how the federal role in education has changed in the past year and the implications of this change for future federal activities designed to achieve educational equity. Policies and program functions that are allowed under the new federal role and which may influence the Department of Education's support for activities to provide equal educational opportunities are detailed along with suggestions of permissible and high priority federal activities that continue to promote sex equity during the Reagan administration. The outline also discusses the relationship between key administration officials' policy statements and actual federal program decisions. Recommendations for maintaining a federal role in providing equal education opportunities for women developed by the National Advisory Council on Women's Educational Programs are appended. (JAC)