This paper explores ways in which technology (especially microcomputers) can improve the access to and utility of educational data for school improvement efforts. The paper focuses on the product and project options available to the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory's Database and School Profiling program, which offers technical and informational assistance to educational agencies. The paper first notes that technology's value lies in four areas: making task performance more efficient, producing higher quality products, automating difficult procedures, and extending capabilities. The paper then reviews six essential steps in the school improvement process as identified in the effective schools literature. Of these steps, data collection and profile production appear best suited to automation, though reviewing profiles and developing improvement strategies are also important, complex steps that could benefit from the application of appropriate technological processes. The final portion of the paper is devoted to examining three specific data gathering and analysis needs of agencies engaged in centralized school improvement planning and four needs of agencies committed to supporting decentralized, local school improvement efforts. The problems, appropriate technological applications, and potential technical assistance strategies are identified for each of the seven needs. (PGD)