This paper discusses the instructional development factors that are important in planning magnet schools. Intended to serve as a basic source document for school districts that are considering the development of magnet schools, the paper includes information and examples based on the author's experiences as a curriculum planner in Buffalo (New York). The paper is divided into the following five main sections, corresponding to five planning stages: (1) selection of a direction (adhering to district and state educational goals and maximizing student learning); (2) instructional planning; (3) staffing considerations (choosing a program coordinator and secondary program staff); (4) providing information and developing awareness (sharing the magnet plan with students, teachers, and administrators); and (5) staff training and retraining requirements (linking staff training to district educational goals and focusing on new curricula, materials, methods and organizational implications). A conclusion summarizes the major ideas of the paper and provides a list of the benefits observed in Buffalo magnet schools. (KH)