Prepared for top and middle managers, this paper represents a comparative overview of management information system development in 40 state departments of education. Questionnaires elicited information about the background of participating agencies as well as conceptual concerns, the planning and implementing of MIS data collection, data processing, and information delivery. Specific conclusions drawn from this study and some of their implications are discussed together with a complete description of the survey. Appendices include the MIS questionnaire, data in table form, a key relating the questionnaire to sections of the paper, and definitions of terms. (Author/RAA)