Updating a 1978 literature review, this document assembles five articles analyzing recent research on how various types of educational agencies disseminate information for school improvement. Each article summarizes literature relevant to one type of educational agency, discusses interrelationships among the research findings, and assesses the implications for federal policy and further research. In the first article, Michael Fullan synthesizes recent findings on local educational agencies' use of external resources to improve schools and suggests four types of needed research. David Clark analyzes reports on the role played in school improvement by schools, colleges, and departments of education within institutions of higher education, and calls for further descriptive and evaluative data. In the third article, Carolyn Moran and Larry Hutchins examine educational service agencies (including "intermediate" and "regional" service centers) and ponder the implications of federal funding cutbacks. Regional education laboratories and university centers are covered by Leslie Salmon-Cox, who recommends continued support for these research and development agencies. Finally, Henry M. Brickell raises questions about the role of state departments of education in future dissemination and school improvements efforts. (Author/RW)