In 1982-83 the Jefferson County Public Schools (Kentucky) (JCPS) implemented a pilot effective schools project for 10 elementary buildings, based on the inservice program, "Creating Effective Schools," by Brookover and others (1982). This paper provides an overview of the origin of the program in JCPS, how the program was conducted, and a brief review of events through the first year. Outcomes of pilot schools are compared to district schools by an analysis of covariance using 1981-82 achievement and attendance as covariates along with various demographic controls. Results, computed as weighted school means based on standardized z-scores, reflect the gain in achievement for reading and math during the 1982-83 year. For reading (similar results were obtained for math), the average growth for the entire district, project schools, and remaining schools (n=87, 10, 77, respectively) was .080, .291, and .053 in standard deviation units. This strong statistical and educational significance was achieved under conditions of implementation that were far from ideal. Discussion involves planning, district support, institutionalization, possible Hawthorne effects, level of use, and other factors related to organizational change. (Author/MCG)