The Special Projects Committee of the Illinois Association of Teachers of English undertook a survey of the 345 junior high school English Departments in the state to determine their organization and work. Questionnaires were sent to each department chairman. Responses from 166 schools yielded information about (1) grades included in the junior high school, (2) degree of organization of the English Department, (3) curriculum development, (4) teacher preparation and teaching assignments, and (5) the English teacher's load. It was concluded that many of the needed improvements in procedures and course content can be solved by the individual classroom teacher in cooperation with other members of the English department and school administrators. (SW)