The New School for Behavioral Studies in Education is demonstrating alternative approaches to elementary school instruction and teacher preparation in North Dakota. It is establishing a cooperative working relationship with participating school districts through a teacher exchange program in which less-than-degree teachers are released to complete their college education in exchange for fully certified teachers enrolled in a master's level internship. Interns attempt to create new learning environments through individualization of instruction and introduction of a variety of materials and techniques. As a model of the type of education environment it is promoting, the school concentrates on the quality of its student-teacher relationships and the individualization of its program. A nondepartmental structure involving faculty from various disciplines contributes to integration of the general-professional, content-methodology, and theory-practice components. The undergraduate program (junior and senior year) has six units: Creative Expression, Nature and Conditions of Learning, Quantitative Reasoning, Modes of Communication, Human Responses to Environment, and Contemporary Issues in Education. The master's program includes seminars and independent research besides the resident internship. The total effort is supported by a program of research to determine the effects of the preparatory program and the mode of instruction being introduced into the cooperating schools. (JS)