The organizational and decision-making characteristics of four school-based management models being developed in Dade County, Florida; Chicago; Los Angeles; and Spain are compared in this paper. The key differences lie in the origin of and reasons for change, and the common focal point is the creation and empowerment of a local school council at each school site. A conclusion is that the models' distinct structures and operating characteristics are generally derived from the power blocks that created them. The lesson of the Spanish experience is that selection of school leaders by local councils leads to politicization of the leadership role. The extent to which the various forms of school-based management will accomplish their goals or improve educational quality cannot yet be predicted. (47 references) (LMI)