The National Diffusion Network (United States, 1974–1995) was the first federally sponsored effort to identify and spread to America's schools innovative education programs.
It, like several other small programs then administered by the U.S. Department of Education was eliminated by having its funding stopped by the 105th Congress, under the implementation of a cost-cutting initiative sponsored by new Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, called the Contract with America.
A catalog listing all the DDs available to schools, Educational Programs That Work[3] was published yearly by Sopris West, a private contractor, and distributed nationally.
[6] The association was led by Max McConkey,[7] artist,[8] later the chief policy officer at WestEd[9] and board president of Knowledge Alliance.
[10] NDA appealed to both Education Secretary Terrel Bell and to Congressman Kildee and Senator Pell.