The Dallas (Texas) Independent School District has developed an assessment system that is fully integrated into its learning system, which also includes planning, instruction, and accountability. This paper describes the learning system in Dallas in terms of a four-part model: planning, instruction, assessment, and accountability. Following this, the three governing principles of the learning system are delineated: (1) as much control as possible should reside at the building level; (2) flexibility and change must be allowed; and (3) activities asssociated with the learning model should be as unobtrusive as possible. The third section discusses the minutiae, trivia, and general headaches that must be overcome to implement this program successfully. Guidelines are accordingly provided for item formatting and test assembly. It is suggested that this learning syseem works in the Dallas Independent School District because (1) assessment is part of the system, (2) the system is governed by the three principles identified above, and (3) some measure of luck has prevailed. An appendix details test development activities for survey and classroom tests. (TE)