The paper discusses the activities and processes by which the local education agencies (LEAs) are implementing the provisions of Public Law 94-142 (Education for All Handicapped Children Act) and describes and analyzes the consequences which occur at the individual LEA/community level. The preliminary findings of a series of nine case studies of LEAs in rural, suburban, and urban settings in three states are presented. After reporting the general findings, the paper explores the activities and consequences of the major provisions of the law (childfind efforts, individualized educational plans, evaluation, placement, due process and parent involvement, and least restrictive environment). Processes and consequences common to all states and those unique to one setting are related. The process dynamics of implementation at the LEA level are explored. Appendixes include State Education Agency and LEA descriptive information, summary descriptions of the case studies, activities and study methodology, and summary tables of the consequences. (PHR)