To conduct a national assessment of the educational needs of smaller schools in the 48 contiguous states, the National Center for Smaller Schools surveyed 951 schools in 17 states within 5 geographic regions during the fall of 1981. The superintendent, one principal, and three teachers in each sample school district completed a questionnaire focusing on three areas: curriculum and instruction, administration, and professional preparation and development. For all respondents, the most important issues concerned classroom management and school administration. The least important issues concerned curriculum offerings and instructional methods. Over 77% of the items were perceived both as important and well performed. However, 12 items seen as important but poorly performed constituted definite areas of need. Of these, most were in the professional preparation and development category. The top five needs were developing student motivational strategies, providing training in fostering positive student self-image, identifying strategies to deal with teacher burnout, providing professional development incentive programs, and providing programs for gifted and talented students. Although few differences existed between the perceptions of superintendents and principals, significant differences existed between teachers and the more positive administrators. Significant differences also existed between the Southeast and the Western regions. (SB)