This report comprises edited versions of the presentations from the 17 participants in a conference under the sponsoreship of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. The conference was designed to enable policy-makers, educators, and business people to share perspectives on the most effective methods for identifying and collecting data that can be used in both regional and local efforts to improve the planning, implementation, and evaluation of educational reforms. The participants and their topics were: Dean Mosier on "A Business Council's Needs for Education Data"; Martha Darling on "Business Perspectives on Using Data for Improvement and Accountability"; Don Egge on "State Perspectives on Using Data for Improvement and Accountability"; Michael Kirst on "Policy and Research Issues in Using Data to Promote School Reforms"; Francis Hatanaka on "Developing State, District, and School Objectives from School Profiles"; Harvey Crommet, Ichiro Fukumoto, Wayne Neuburger, and Stephen J. Slater in four separate presentations on "State Activities in Developing School Profiles, Data Bases, and Indicators"; Dennis Deck on "The High School and Beyond Database: Local, State, and National Perspectives"; Donald Holznagel on "The Feasibility of Regional Databases"; William Cooley on "Using Data Systems to Support a District's Evaluation and Improvement Efforts"; Bob Blum on "Profile Development and Goal Setting for School Improvement Leadership Teams"; Michael Brott and Milton Snyder in separate presentations on "District Use of Data to Support School Improvement"; Bob Hammond on "District Use of Data to Support Basic Skills Program Improvement"; and Matthew Prophet on "The Role of Evaluation and Assessment Data in Managing a Large District." Charts and diagrams used during the presentations are reproduced. (PGD)