The application of the accelerated school concept to middle schools is presented in this report. The Accelerated Schools Project was designed to create schools capable of accelerating at-risk students' progress and of assimilating those students into the educational mainstream. Based on the principles of teacher empowerment, unity of purpose, and building on strengths, the program has resulted in improved student achievement, increased parent participation, and reductions in student discipline and retention problems. The report begins with an introductory chapter, followed by a background chapter that offers a critique of current reform efforts and describes a plan for accelerated schools. Chapter 3 presents a review of early adolescent development research, middle grade reform proposals, and the compatibility of such proposals with the accelerated schools process. The fourth chapter describes the process along three dimensions (curriculum, instruction, and organization) and presents implementation plans for a fictional scenario of what an Accelerated Middle School might be like. The final chapter discusses future challenges. An extensive bibliography is included. (LMI)