This paper focuses on policy conflict in the planning and implementation of school desegregation. Areas discussed include: (1) Missouri State and Federal legislation on desegregation; (2) areas of conflict between State and Federal policies; (3) the need for technical assistance in planning school desegregation; (4) community reaction to the desegregation planning practice; and (5) problems in the implementation of policy and monitoring of compliance when Federal, State, and local policies conflict. The author (Superintendent of the St. Louis public schools) calls for increased financial incentives, reform in Office of Civil Rights guidelines, and attention to the consistency and long term effects of legislation in order to achieve the goals of school desegregation. (APM)