The first in a series of annual interim reports on the federally funded Experimental Schools (ES) program, this report describes the first 2 years of a 6-year research program designed to promote locally-initiated comprehensive educational change dependent upon community participation, with provision for systematic documentation and evaluation. Focusing on the 1972-73 planning stages and the 1973-74 implementation procedures of 10 small rural school districts, chosen via nationwide competition, this report: (1) traces the beginnings of the ES program and presents research procedures for program documentation and evaluation; (2) presents background material on the 10 sites; (3) defines the individual goals of the 10 school districts, summarizes and compares the most significant proposals for change, and delineates common plans for educational progress and problem solving; (4) describes and analyzes the amount of implementation achieved by the 10 school districts (initial findings and suggestions of tentative patterns); and (5) examines community and school characteristics associated with tentative findings (the planning process, the desire and impetus for change, the amount of experience with educational change in the district's organization, the commitment of district leaders, and the centralization/coordination of the decision making process). (JC)