A national sample survey of innovation processes reported by superintendents in 353 school districts reveals four distinct patterns of belief regarding change. These four patterns are identified as "participative problem solving,""RD&D,""strategic manipulation," and "open advocacy-human revolution." Three of the four correspond closely to "perspectives" identified by the author in a previous review of the literature on planned change and knowledge utilization. Important "barriers" to innovation were also analyzed and appeared to show a large general factor related to teacher confusion and lack of information about the innovation, and a secondary factor related to financial capacity. A bibliography is included. (Author)