Noting that many middle schools do not pay sufficient attention to the emotional, physical, and social development of their students, this booklet presents characteristics of successful middle school programs, as recognized by scholars in the middle school movement. Each characteristic is accompanied by an explanation of the "what and why," and a further elaboration on its use. Seventeen characteristics are listed and explained: (1) teaming; (2) team teaching; (3) block time; (4) self-contained classrooms; (5) guidance services; (6) creative, exploratory and enrichment experiences; (7) personalized student evaluation; (8) independent study; (9) basic skill repair; (10) community relations; (11) student services; (12) auxiliary staffing; (13) social experiences; (14) physical experiences and intramural activities; (15) continuous progress; (16) a multi-material approach; and (17) flexible schedules. A list of available resources from the Michigan Association of Middle School Educators is included. (AP)