This work investigates the systemic inefficiencies in service delivery for children with disabilities and proposes strategies to improve the coordination and effectiveness of these programs. The authors, Garry D. Brewer and James S. Kakalik, utilize extensive research conducted by the Rand Corporation for the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to evaluate existing support structures. By analyzing the fragmented nature of federal and state assistance, the text argues for a more integrated, data-driven approach to policy implementation and resource allocation.

Experts recognize this volume as a foundational policy document that highlights the bureaucratic challenges inherent in social service provision. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a detailed record of institutional research from the Rand Corporation.