THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EMERGING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA IS CONSIDERED. CERTAIN WORLD REVOLUTIONS HAVE AFFECTED CONTEMPORARY LIFE. THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION BROUGHT WITH IT INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY, RESEARCH, HIGHER STANDARDS OF LIVING, LONGER LIFE SPANS, AND CATEGORIZATION OF NATIONS INTO HAVES AND HAVE NOTS. THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION WAS MARKED BY GREAT PROGRESS AND DISCOVERIES IN ALL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FIELDS. THE EDUCATION REVOLUTION, OR KNOWLEDGE EXPLOSION, LED TO AN EMPHASIS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EDUCATED, RATHER THAN A MERELY LITERATE, POPULATION. WITH AN EDUCATED CITIZENRY BECOMING THE MEANS OF SURVIVAL, EDUCATION IS BECOMING THE KEYSTONE OF NATIONAL POLICY. THE PROVISION OF AN EDUCATION ADEQUATE FOR THE NEEDS OF TOMORROW'S ADULTS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. THE ECONOMIC REVOLUTION IS THE MOVEMENT OF THE HAVE-NOT NATIONS INTO THE CATEGORY OF THE HAVES. THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION HAS BROUGHT ABOUT THE DOMINANCE OF WESTERN CULTURE AND THE DISAPPEARANCE OF EASTERN CULTURE AS A STRONG FORCE. IMPLICATIONS OF THE EMERGING ENVIRONMENT, FOR THE COUNTY BOARDS AND THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS THAT FORM THE INTERMEDIATE UNIT OF ADMINISTRATION IN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EDUCATION, ARE ANALYZED. EXPANSION OF THE CONCEPT OF COUNTY SERVICE TO ALL DISTRICTS IS URGED. THE INTERMEDIATE UNIT CAN BEST HANDLE NEW SERVICE AREAS BY BECOMING A CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON EDUCATIONAL CONTENT AND METHOD, A CENTER FOR ORGANIZED INNOVATION IN EDUCATION, AND A POWER CENTER FOR LOCAL PLANNING. THE EMERGING ENVIRONMENT REQUIRES THE USE OF SPECIALIST TEAMS IN EDUCATION. SPECIALISTS COULD BE SHARED BY VARIOUS SCHOOLS OR DISTRICTS. SCHOOL BOARDS SHOULD CONCERN THEMSELVES WITH QUALITY CONTROL OF SUCH ASPECTS OF EDUCATION AS ORGANIZATION, PROGRAM, AND PRODUCT. THE RESOURCES OF LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS AND THE COUNTY AND STATE SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION SHOULD BE REDIRECTED TOWARD MAJOR PLANNING AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT.