An eight-chapter manual describes how to involve school faculty in the development of effective middle schools. The author identifies the components of effective middle school programs and suggests processes for implementing the programs using group and staff development techniques. Chapter 1 discusses staff development programs to train teachers for middle school teaching. Chapter 2 lists the physical, social, intellectual, and emotional characteristics of early adolescent learners and notes the implications for middle school programs. In chapter 3 the author covers the documents a middle school program will need, including a definition of middle schools, a needs assessment report, school philosophy and goals, and a rationale for the program. Dr. William Alexander's model curriculum for middle schools is described in chapter 4. Chapters 5 and 6 suggest ways to involve the faculty in devising a school organizational plan and a flexible master schedule. The skills teachers need to work in middle school teaching teams are covered in chapter 7, while chapter 8 discusses the evaluation of middle school programs. Charts presenting Dr. Alexander's curriculum and sample school schedules are included in the text. (Author/RW)