This bulletin provides an overview of the ways in which school districts and schools are making learning a priority in schools despite scarce resources. it describes how districts and schools make use of resources, instructional strategies, and policies to overcome the barriers caused by tight budgets. Examples from Oregon schools are provided. Data were collected from telephone interviews with 11 individuals--principals, superintendents, and directors of educational research centers. Chapter 1 focuses on the effective allocation of resources. Examples show how school districts are streamlining their administrative operations to free up resources for instruction. The chapter also examines the relationship between school inputs and student outcomes and surveys the use of technology in the classroom. Chapter 2 describes the relationship between time and student achievement. Methods of using community and business volunteers, parents, and peers to assist students are discussed in the third chapter. The fourth chapter is concerned with instructional strategies that promote learning, including ways of meeting students' needs, targeting student populations, and improving teaching methods. The final chapter discusses policies favoring student learning at the state, district, and school levels. A condensed version of the bulletin is included. (Contains 84 references.) (LMI)