The authors of this volume divide their consideration of decision-making into three major areas: 1) a step-by-step analysis for a systematic decision-making process that has widespread application; 2) an explicit description of the legal and extralegal components of the current decision-making structure; and 3) a review of some changing concepts of learning, content and process, and evaluation to illustrate the kinds of controversial questions that are demanding attention and decisions in schools across the country. The legal structure of education includes the federal government, the state, and the local school district, while the extralegal structure includes political pressure groups, formal organizations and informal influences which may come from individuals or groups working behind the scenes. The changing concepts of learning which are considered include new attitudes toward IQ tests, educational and developmental psychology, programed instruction, the use of chemicals to stimulate learning, and student motivation. Other topics include remedial reading programs, standarized tests as a measure of student achievement, the planning, programing and budgeting system, merit pay, techniques to be used in evaluating teachers, and identification of those who should apply these techniques. (This is one of a series, "Schools for the 70's-- and Beyond." Related documents are ED031 452, ED037 405, ED038 332 and SP004 197.) (MBM)