The nature and direction of educational reform and the principal's role in it are examined in this book. Information was gathered from a questionnaire that was mailed to an unspecified number of leading principals and administrators in each of the 50 states. A selected number of the initial respondents participated in a follow-up questionnaire. Principals generally agreed that some form of reform is necessary and that practitioners have a major role in determining the nature of change. The first chapter presents a historical overview of education in the United States to demonstrate why reform is needed today. As the nation moves from an industrial to an information society, students must be prepared to perform productively in a diverse, global society. Chapter 2 examines issues in determining the direction of school reform and offers a critical analysis of the six National Education Goals. Seven issues in systemwide restructuring are examined in chapter 3. Chapter 4 explains the site-based-management process based on the TEAM concept (Together Everyone Achieves More). The final chapter examines the role of the principal in school reform. Principals as change agents must be reflective, open to change, and able to coordinate resources and build collegial relationships. They need to possess an infectious optimism about teaching and learning and convey their beliefs to students, parents, and teachers. They also need to be lifelong learners themselves. References accompany each section. A list of contributing administrators is included. (LMI)