A computerized referral management system, the Arrowhead Student Information System, has enhanced communication among special education staff members in rural Iowa. The system serves a 45-district intermediate level service unit which identifies and serves children from birth to 21 years who require special education from a student and preschool population of approximately 40,500. Information needs which prompted establishment of the system include difficulties in coordinating teacher referrals; evaluation by several staff members; setting up appropriate programs for students; requirements for gathering information needed at federal, state, and local levels; and program evaluation and research. Factors considered in designing the information system include use of ordinary English on regular reports; reduction of codes; usefulness to all staff, not just administrators; staff design and modification of the system to accommodate actual practices and procedures; selection of one in-house person to coordinate system design and programming; and financial considerations in selection of hardware and software. The Arrowhead Student Information System consists of an IBM PC-AT computer as non-dedicated file server and several IBM PC-XT computers as workstations. Software developed using the KnowledgeMan data management package consists of student information, referral management, program and support service data, discipline-specific, and report-generating databases. (LFL)