The National Defense Education Act of 1958 (NDEA) primarily provided which of the following?

• A. provided financial aid for grad ed counseling, expanded school guidance services, and improved guidance for at-risk youth
• B. funded after-school sports programs
• C. mandated school uniforms
• D. established federal student loan forgiveness for educators

Answer: (A)

The National Defense Education Act aimed to strengthen education in ways that would support students entering higher education and careers, especially in science and math, after the Sputnik era spurred national interest in improving schooling. It provided funding for graduate education and added resources to help schools guide students through college and career choices, including support for at‑risk youth.

This option best matches those aims by describing financial aid for graduate education in counseling, expansion of school guidance services, and improved guidance for at‑risk youth. Other choices don’t reflect the Act’s focus: it wasn’t about after‑school sports funding, school uniforms, or loan forgiveness for educators. It did include federal loans for students to pursue higher education, not forgiveness for teachers.