The report of the first phase of a six-phase, longrange project to develop procedures for evaluating elementary and secondary schools briefly outlines the total project, lists the objectives of the initial phase, defines general procedures of the project, and describes the several institutional and personal components of the project. Utilizing system concepts, the total project has been formulated in a five-part sequence: Retrieval or research (1969-70), design (1970-71), refinement (1971-72), evaluation (1972-73), and dissemination (1973-74). A listing of 23 findings of the planning staff includes verification of the need for the project, recognition of school evaluation as a timely topic among educational leaders, project influence on the improvement of the accreditation program of the project's sponsoring agency (Western Association of Schools and Colleges), and a pressing need to obtain certain information from schools on an annual basis for data analysis. (JK)