Drawing on studies of state education agencies (SEA) that have been carried out both by the author and by other students of this phenomenon, the contents of this book focus on the SEAs' responsiveness to recent federal aid programs, especially the National Defense Education Act of 1958 and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Chapter 1 sets the scene by establishing an historical view of educational governance in the U.S. Chapter 2 presents a conceptualization of the dynamics of federal-state relations and describes the data bases for the discussion that follows. Chapters 3 and 4 explore the tasks pursued by SEAs, particularly as they have been modified to meet the challenges of federal program administration. Chapter 5 looks closely into the ways that SEAs have dealt with their evermore complex environments while attempting to maintain control over their own activities. Finally, chapter 6, employing the conceptual framework introduced in chapter 2, provides a summation and explores probable futures as federal inputs continue to alter the face of educational governance. (Author/MLF)