Based on the realization that 20 years of educational development efforts in Latin America have had little result, this author identified problems in educational administration at the national and regional levels that are largely responsible for the lack of progress. A number of structural and legal problems were identified, including the needlessly complicated structure of educational administration, a surfeit of regulations, obsolete laws, red tape, and overrigid centralization. Unproductive practices related to administrative personnel were pinpointed, including the selection of administrators with very little training in administration from the ranks of teachers. Some deficiencies identified in regional and local organization included the lack of authority of regional administrative offices and the lack of involvement of individual schools in planning and decision-making. The organization of the inspectorate was seen as impeding progress, partly because inspectors have an overwhelming accumulation of disparate duties and little training or support. Finally, difficulties regarding administrative aspects of the planning process were looked at, including isolation of the planning unit, lack of meetings of the senior officers, and lack of expertise among some staff members. Suggestions to remedy these problems emphasized that administrative reform should be a prime component of educational development planning. (Author/JM)