This paper summarizes the major pieces of education legislation passed in 1988 and 1989 in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. The Education Reform Act 1988, the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, and the Self-Governing Schools Etc. (Scotland) Act 1989 will all transform education in the 1990s. In all countries, the prime legislative aims were to devolve funding and staffing responsibilities to educational institutions and to change the size and composition of college governing bodies or councils. This paper concentrates on further education (FE), summarizing each piece of legislation and briefly noting its effects on FE. Key issues raised by the legislation involve the nature of future college/authority relationships; future relationships among college principal, college management, and governing body; the development of governors or councilors; increased plant bargaining between college management and teaching and other unions; possible confusion in staffing responsibilities; colleges' responsiveness to clients' needs; the future of post-16/tertiary reorganization; governor and council or accountability; and the possibility of corporate status. (25 references) (MLH)