The Program for Educational Opportunity, an institute based at the University of Michigan and established by the Office of Education pursuant to Title IV of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, is designed to assist school districts in the process of desegregation. The Program annually conducts a series of conferences. The Conference on Developments in School Desegregation and the Law, held May 17-19, 1972, was designed to provide an overview of developing educational and legal principles. The following papers are presented in this document: "Unconstitutional segregation and court ordered desegregation," J. H. Flannery; "Racial imbalance and State desegregation standards," R. Lyons; "Drawing up desegregation plans: the steps, data and resources required," C. Glatt; "Busing and metropolitan desegregation," J. H. Flannery; "Voluntary vs. involuntary desegregation," J. Cochran; "Assisting equal educational opportunity," C. B. Vergon; "Hiring and retaining minority personnel; legal and practical analysis of permissible practices," A. J. Howell and J. Luck; "Integrating the desegregated school," N. Sullivan; "Achieving effective desegregation: a handbook," A. Smith, A. Downs, and M. L. Lachman; "Ability grouping: status, impact, and alternatives," W. G. Findley; and, "Discipline in desegregated schools," L. Bobbitt. (JM)