The findings of an exploratory study of urban school desegregation costs are reported in this paper. The study examined five cities faced with desegregating their schools: Cleveland, Columbus, Buffalo, Dayton, and Milwaukee. The main body of the report presents descriptive information about desegregation costs. Cost variations among cities are attributed to (1) technical factors (such as rules defining allowable costs for transportation reimbursement), (2) situational factors (that is, type of desegregation plan), and (3) "constructivist" factors (the informants' positions as defendants or plaintiffs). Despite outward variations, there are underlying regularities that were found during this study: resource reallocation, additional revenues, non-programmatic costs such as attorneys' fees, inadequate financial management, and planning tools. Greater attention to the political economy of urban school desegregation is recommended. (Author/MK)