Local instructional design describes the process of customization that naturally occurs when curriculum innovations interface with local classrooms and schools. Describing the practice of local instructional design can help to explain how curriculum is adapted to local conditions and provides insight on how instructional leaders mediate curriculum, teaching, and school conditions to allow for reform-oriented curriculum to occur. Research on local design has tended to focus on the intersection of curriculum, teachers, and students. This case-based dissertation study documents the process of local instructional design in the context of high school science education through a distributed leadership perspective. The study develops a model of instructional design, points to the important roles of administrators, parents, and university consultants in leading local design, and suggests instructional reform advocates consider the role of school leadership and community when further studying local instructional design. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]