The Seattle Public Schools' effort to define and establish effective schools is described in this paper, a transcript of four coordinated presentations. Ellen Roe, the first presenter, recounts the design of the project. Planning, she states, was begun in late 1981 by a decision seminar (comprised of teachers, administrators, a community representative, and a school board member), which reviewed literature and testimony, proposed policies to the board, and--reconvening in spring 1983 and winter 1984--evaluated the planning process. T. J. Vassar then outlines 12 characteristics of school effectiveness identified by the seminar and describes the school board policy based on them, which was adopted in April 1982. Richard L. Andrews, after commenting on the current school effectiveness debate, proposes a seven-step process for improving American schools and lists means of measuring Vassar's 12 characteristics. Finally, Donald J. Steele, Jr. (the district superintendent during this project) summarizes the first three presentations, outlines the challenges in planning and implementing an effective schools project, and lists the project's four premises and seven component tasks. (MCG)