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To conduct a national assessment of the educational needs of smaller schools in the 48 contiguous states, the National Center for Smaller Schools surveyed 951 schools in 17 states within 5 geographic regions during the fall.of X981. The superintendent, one principal, and three teachers in each sample school district completed a questionnaire focusing on three areas: curriculum and instruction, administration, and professional preparation and development. For all respondents, the most important issues concerned classroom management and school administration. The least important issues concerned curriculum offerings and instructional methods. Over 77 % of the items were perceived both as important and well performed. However, 12 items seen as important but poorly performed constituted definite areas of need. Of these, most were in Om professional preparation and development category. The top five needs wer