Drawing upon research findings on school effectiveness, the McREL School Improvement Program was designed to examine critically such factors as school leadership, building organization, school climate and environment, and how citizens and parents are encouraged to participate in raising morale and effectiveness. Focus is upon instructional practices, building level leadership and organization, and the relationship between curriculum and student assessment. A description is presented of the selection and training of management teams to work cooperatively with the schools, with emphasis on characteristics which have been identified as typical of effective schools. The procedures of workshops and inservice programs developed for school personnel are described. Worksheets used in the workshops are appended, as well as an article on research findings on the effective use of praise in the classroom. (JD)