The system approach to planning and managing educational change features the use of an adaptive framework and a strategy for planned system change. The approach focuses management attention upon (1) relevant future states of expectation or goals, (2) present and future state variables and contexts, (3) human organization factors, and (4) alternative programs that can be implemented to facilitate goal attainment and change. This document discusses the design, dimension, and utility of an adaptive framework model that can be refined to accommodate the unique attributes of specific educational agencies and the target populations they serve. Based on, and incorporating, the work of many behavioral scientists and the constructive criticisms and suggestions of many educational managers, this model hopefully will provoke constructive reactions toward the development of more efficient and effective management techniques for public education. Work reported herein was performed pursuant to an ESEA Title III grant. (A related document is EA 003 246.) (Author/LLR)