The COPED project linked behavioral scientists and educators in various geographical regions to school systems in the same regions for the purpose of planning and promoting change, understanding the processes by which change occurs, and evaluating types of change efforts. The enterprise evolved into four major strands: (1) the conceptual effort, (2) the development of variable change strategies or interventions, (3) the development of sensitive instruments to advance the understanding of school systems and to document change efforts, and (4) the development and maintenance of an interuniversity, interschool system consortium. Abstracts of some of the research are included in this volume. (Related volumes are EA 003 045 and EA 003 046). (Author)