Some baseline information is offered in this study to help determine the ends to which the strategic planning processes are being put and the outcomes that are being pursued. A conceptual overview of planning models and the role of planners are presented. The complete study comprises a two-stage process of data collection. First, strategic plans were collected from districts throughout the country, and second, a survey/questionnaire was sent to those districts submitting plans. The survey consisted of 16 items on a 5-point Likert scale and 10 questions requesting short narrative responses. One-hundred twenty plans were received from school districts in 30 states, and 85 (71 percent) of these districts responded to the questionnaire. The responses to each of 16 questions are presented in graphic form along with a discussion of the significance of the response pattern. Following the analysis of the questions, the results from 10 narrative responses are presented. The evidence suggests that strategic planning seems to be working well in those districts that responded to the study, and that educators combine a number of planning paradigms when they conduct strategic planning. (70 references) (MLF)