A study of seven school districts in Florida indicates that factors associated with large scale, area-wide desegregation stir negative sentiments among parents. These negative sentiments have relatively little influence over behavior but apparently undercut attitudinal support for school desegregation. Parents in the seven school districts can be classified into three groups. At one end are the compliers who did not object to school desegregation or the means necessary to achieve it. Most of them are black. At the other end are the avoiders who objected to desegregation by whatever means. Virtually all of these are white. Between these two polar opposites are the vast majority of white parents who complied with busing, although they complained about it and had reservations about educational quality in desegregated public schools. From a public policy standpoint it is fortunate that most white parents complied with desegregation even if reluctantly and against their attitudinal preferences. While the findings of this study indicate that a match between this behavior and positive attitudes has yet to be made, they also suggest some ways by which that objective may be achieved. The most important strategy would be the reduction of the distance and a change in the relationship between parents and officials in the policy-making process. (Author/EB)