To help New York City public schools reduce the fragmentation of student services and design comprehensive instructional plans, researchers gathered examples of cohesive programs that unify classroom instruction with special compensatory educational services funded by outside sources. Chapter one reviews the problems caused by fragmented instructional services, discusses the concept of comprehensive planning, and describes 11 comprehensive programs solicited from school boards and educational researchers around the nation. In chapter two the authors present the results of 40 case studies of New York City schools that provide compensatory instruction through three or more programs funded outside the regular district budget. The findings indicate a high degree of instructional fragmentation. Chapter three profiles two districts and three schools that have model comprehensive instructional plans. The chapter also examines factors affecting comprehensive planning and the relationship between planning and student achievement. Planning services available from the New York City Board of Education's Comprehensive Planning Unit are outlined in chapter four. Appended to the report in a second volume are copies of the case study research instrument, data tables, and planning documents from a model district and school. (Author/RW)