This study provides a description of a program initiated in 1980 by the Maryland State Education Agency (SEA). The School Improvement through Instructional Process (SITIP) program presents data for a study involving educators in 19 of 24 local education agencies. The SITIP design includes nine areas of activity: (1) SEA preparation; (2) building local commitment; (3) conducting awareness training; (4) local planning involving the submission of proposals based on SEA guidelines concerning issues to be addressed, such as the deciding factors in the selection of schools, curriculum areas, and implementation strategies (including the lighthouse school strategy and feeder school strategy); (5) implementation; (6) dissemination; (7) SEA technical assistance; (8) followup training by SEA staff; and (9) assessment of program and impact. The data are examined in terms of participation, participant evaluation of activities initiated by the SEA, comparison of initial proposals and Promising Educational Practices Submittal plans, and the relationship of planning to training and implementation. A figure of the SITIP design and a table showing the SITIP chronology of events are provided. (PB)