In 1992, the SouthEastern Regional Vision for Education (SERVE) began a 3-year research-and-development effort to support four schools and two school districts in the southeastern United States in their implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) processes. This document describes the experiences and perceptions of the participating educators. Following the introduction, chapter 2 introduces the main concepts of Total Quality Management. Chapter 3 describes the experiences of each of the pilot sites and offers a framework for systemic reform, although there is no one correct way to implement TQM. The fourth chapter presents findings of an independent evaluation of the pilot sites' implementation of TQM strategies. Data derived from focus-group and individual interviews suggest that the keys to a total-quality school include: (1) a committed and supportive leader; (2) a faculty that is open to change; (3) time for training; (4) the inclusion of all faculty in an orientation; and (5) the recognition that TQM requires a long-term commitment. Other TQM resources and efforts in the Southeast are listed. The appendix contains descriptions of TQM pilot sites. One figure and one table are included. (Contains 15 references.) (LMI)