ESEA asked the schools to fit the child. to assess the particular needs of their students. and to devise individualized and effective prescriptions for them." writes Samuel Helperin. one of the architects of the act. The ESEA has had other benefits. too. It energized the movement toward equal educational opportunity with special provisions for children of migrant workers. juvenile delinquents. children who speak one language at home and another at school. and preschool children. A basic principle behind ESEA is that disadvantaged children are entitled to aboveaverage educational expenditures. The ESEA has also involved parents and the community in the schools through the use of parent advisory councils and other mechanisms. and it has promoted cooperation between public and nonpublic schools by centering funds in the public schools while insisting that they had an obligation as public trustee for all children.