VARIATIONS IN THE STYLE AND CONTENT OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, AND IN THE DIVISION OF AUTHORITY AMONG DIFFERING SOCIAL-STRUCTURAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS WERE STUDIED. DATA INCLUDED OBSERVATION OF MEETINGS, INTERVIEWS, AND CONTENT ANALYSIS OF THE COMMUNITY PRESS. THE RESEARCH SITES SELECTED FOR THIS STUDY WERE FOUR SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICTS. DISCUSSIONS WERE INCLUDED FOR THE (1) COMMUNITY CONTEXTS AND POLITICAL DEMANDS, (2) INTERPRETATION AND PRESENTATION OF DEMANDS, (3) DECISION-MAKING FORM, (4) AUTHORITY RELATIONSHIPS AND THE DIVISION OF LABOR, AND (5) CONTENTS AND OUTPUTS OF THE POLICY PROCESS. THE FINDINGS INDICATED THAT GENERALLY VARIATIONS IN DECISION-MAKING CHARACTERISTICS IN THE SAMPLE SCHOOL SYSTEMS WERE RELATED TO THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COMMUNITY AND TO CERTAIN STATUS-RELATED COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS. (RS)