On January 12, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson sent Congress a forceful education message proposing “that we declare a national goal of Full Educational Opportunity.” Further, he asserted, “Every child must be encouraged to get as much education as he has the ability to take.” Johnson’s message tried to side step opposition to funding private, parochial schools by basing federal support on the number of children from low-income families. To blunt fear of federal involvement in local schools, the administration called for funds to be distributed by grants to states and provided that local districts have wide discretion on the use of funds.