An overview of the first five years of the Louisiana School Effectiveness Study (LSES) is described. The longitudinal nature of the study has allowed the research team to develop an evolving methodology, one benefiting from prior external studies as well as prior phases of LSES. Practical implications and recommendations for future research are presented. [For the original article: "Methods, History, Selected Findings and Recommendations from the Louisiana School Effectiveness Study, 1980-85" (v20 n2 p22-30 Sum 1985), see EJ330695.]