The results of a grant-supported project to develop a Center on Effective Elementary and Middle Schools in association with Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, are presented in this report. The first of the document's three sections describes the six basic planning activities conducted under the grant, including identification of the center's research and development mission, design of operating research and development mission, design of operating design of projects, and evaluation. The second section presents the revised design of projects, and evaluation. The second section presents the revised mission and strategy statement for the Center, describes the research base on effective elementary and middle schools, and reviews the research variables, to accomplish the center's future goals for research on elementary and middle school education in the should guide the Center's activities in collaboration and dissemination. The third section describes the work needed to accomplish the Center's future goals for research on elementary and middle school education in the areas of instruction, student motivation, use of time, improvement of the knowledge base, and reduction of barriers to innovation. (PGD)