This report describes and assesses seven school-based planning projects to raise student achievement levels in the New York City Public Schools. Based on the principles of organizational development, the projects are: 1) the Renewal Program, a planning partnership between several high schools and the Economic Development Council, a nonprofit business organization providing private resource assistance to the public sector; 2) the Management By Objectives System which emphasizes data-based planning and accountability; 3) the School Improvement Project which bases improvement efforts on a given set of criteria of effective schools; 4) the Local School Development Project which emphasizes collaborative planning among participating schools; 5) the Comprehensive Planning Unit, a group that helps schools maximize the use of resources and coordinate funded programs to reduce redundant or fragmented instruction; 6) Targeted Schools, which focuses on improving high schools with low achievement levels and high dropout rates; and 7) Schoolwide Projects which, under legal authorization, provides Title I compensatory education funds to all students (rather than a restricted number) in schools with large proportions of educationally deprived children. The report suggests that the programs lead to improved pupil achievement and attendance, describes the requirements for creating effective schools, and discusses other issues related to school-based planning. (Author/MJL)