The paper discusses the issue of educational equity, principles of systems analysis, systems approaches in the educational milieu, the evaluation aspect of the systems approach, and application of the systems approach to preventing disproportionate enrollment of Hispanics and Blacks in special education classes in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The literature on the systems approach and its application to education are reviewed. The importance of the evaluation component is stressed with diagrams applying the systems approach to instructional systems. The Holyoke application stemmed from a state requirement that the school system submit a remedial plan designed to address the problem of disproportionate placement of Hispanics and Blacks. The plan's development resulted in determination of eight goals with related objectives. Goals included appropriate identification and referral of minority students to special education and identification of the primary home language of all students. Also identified are eight elements (such as support of decision makers and change agents) seen to be key elements in ameliorating possible prima facie denial or actual denial of Hispanic and Black student's rights through disproportionate enrollment in special education programs. (DB)