The experiences of three educationally strong, desegregated urban school systems are the subject of this report. The three school systems are Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Austin Independent School District, Texas, and the Seattle Public Schools, Washington. The report is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 discusses the current national climate of waning commitment to school desegregation and outlines some of the signals of desegregation success in the school systems under study. Chapter 2 traces the history of desegregation in each system. Chapter 3 examines what made desegregation work in the three systems and identifies unifying characteristics and conditions that have contributed to the desegregation process in all three. Certain patterns of success that could be exemplary for other school communities are suggested. Chapter 4 analyzes persistent problems that inhibit the effort to move toward the integration of programs and people that is essential to achievement of the goals of equity and excellence in education. The final chapter summarizes the roles of school officials, teachers and teacher organizations, community leaders, city governments, and State departments of education in school desegregation and emphasizes the pivotal nature of the Federal role. Recommendations for Presidential and Congressional actions to ensure effective desegregation are made. Appendices list participants in the hearings on which the report is based, and reproduce the thoughts of Austin's school superintendent, John Ellis, on school desegregation. (Author/CMG)