A longitudinal, comparative case study examines the impact of enrollment decline on and the response to it by 15 suburban school districts in 2 metropolitan areas. Data were collected during 1978-81 through interviews, observation of public meetings, documentary and statistical sources, and case histories developed for each district from 1964-81. The central issues examined in this report are: the impact upon public school governance of the changeover from growth and relative affluence to declining enrollments and tight budgets; the effect of such changes on policymaking and conflict management in declining school districts; the characteristics of such districts in such key factors as socioeconomic status, fiscal circumstances and conflict propensity; and the perceived consequences of decline for educational programs, educational service delivery, students and teachers. The study suggests that the rational planning approach provides more successful retrenchment decisions than those produced by more political or ad hoc approaches. Six tables include selected data on enrollments and community socioeconomic status, enrollment decline and fiscal strain, and changes in size, occupation, income, and education of population. Five appendixes summarize the original study, present interviews and fieldwork, examine measurements and causes of fiscal strain, outline problems and limitations of citizens' advisory committees, and list publications emanating from the project. (PB)