This report reviews and synthesizes the findings of a four year, two-phase study conducted by the Rand Corporation to examine and evaluate a national sample of educational innovations funded by Federal programs. Section I of this document provides background information and descriptions of the study. Section II discusses Rand's research approach and design. Section III presents a synthesis of the findings, regarding the effects of Federal change agent policies. Section IV describes the local process of change precipitated by the availability of Federal "seed money," focusing on the distinction between local patterns of innovative activity that were ineffective, and those that characterized effective and lasting change efforts. Section V examines characteristics of school projects, of school district settings, and of Federal influences as these affected innovation. Section VI goes beyond the quantitative and qualitative analysis to consider basic questions about Federal change agent policy and the government's role in educational reform. (Author/EB)