The Local Planning and Assessment Process (LPAP) was developed in response to one objective of the Rhode Island Master Plan for Evaluation. LPAP is designed to encourage systematic planning and assessment activities in the local district. It provides a means by which each local school district can identify and order its educational goals and objectives and plan programs responsive to the needs of its students. The five parts of the process, each of which is discussed in a separate chapter in this introductory handbook, are establishing philosophy and goals, establishing educational priorities, analyzing and planning the program, implementing the program, and evaluating the program. (Author/IRT)