The Policy Board of the Teacher Education and Computer Center (TEC Center) for San Diego/Imperial Counties of California requested researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), to produce a background paper on the effective local classroom uses of microcomputers. Exemplary site studies of two elementary, two junior high, and two high schools in San Diego County were conducted to examine several examples of innovative computer use and gain an understanding of future possibilities. One elementary school and two middle schools stressed programming as the central feature in the computer curriculum. The other elementary school and two high schools introduced students to a range of special purpose tools such as word processing, database management, telecommunications, and graphics, with programming playing a secondary role. Almost no drill and practice was observed at any of the sites. This result contrasts with reports of national and local surveys which reported drill and practice as the most frequent use followed by programming, and tool use being almost non-existent. The policy implications of this research are that the TEC Center should shift its emphasis from programming to software tool use, and should play a role in: (1) evaluating and distributing software tools; (2) coordinating an effort to open exemplary computer classrooms to visitors; (3) establishing telecommunications links between schools, curriculum developers, and institutions of higher education; and (4) supporting in-service training for teachers and administrators. Four appendixes include a summary of each exemplary computer-use site and three papers written by UCSD researchers which bear on this project. (27 references) (GL)