Knowledge and awareness of how joint-management initiatives can improve the operation and results of public education are the focus of this document. The synthesis is based on a 2-day conference that brought interest groups from private and public sectors together to discuss participatory leadership in public schools. Several issues are raised, among them the reason for participatory leadership, a strategy intended to delegate authority to those who actually produce the goods and deliver the services; give them a say in the day-to-day management of an operation; and tap their experience, their judgment, and their capacity for teamwork. Another issue in public schools is where participatory leadership exists; a "bottom-up" style as opposed to a "top-down" style of leadership has been used in some school districts. A third issue is how to begin participatory leadership and how to gauge its effectiveness. Conditions of alliances, views on collective bargaining, the need for new assessments, and when to adopt participatory leadership are additional topics discussed. A summary and recommendations are given. Appended is the conference agenda and information on how 11 schools/school districts achieved reform. (RR)