This paper examines (1) attempts at educational reform in Venezuela and Colombia by means of decentralization, and (2) the impact of decentralization on two contrasting educational systems. In Venezuela, the national school system was highly centralized with even routine decisions being made in Caracas, which resulted in a rigid, unresponsive relationship between local men and government officials. In Colombia, State and local units were relatively autonomous, and government funds were divided among these units so that control over allocations of educational money and enforcement of standard teacher qualification requirements were in the hands of the local units. In both countries, decentralization programs were designed that set up a series of regional offices to strike a better balance between local and national authorities. (RA)