The Birmingham (Alabama) school district regressed from a model system in 1926 to a poorly equipped, underfunded one in 1975. In that year, however, in spite of recession and joblessness, the citizens voted a $3 million tax increase for schools. The success of the election may be traced to several factors. Citizens were concerned about the declining quality of education, city leadership was socially and economically progressive, and the school improvement objective was easily understood and acceptable to the citizens. While the support of community leaders was being sought, the elementary schools were doing a self-study preliminary to accreditation. Following a community survey on the tax election, a campaign strategy was developed which featured arranging for a single-issue election, identifying supporters and getting out the supporting vote, and having ready a last minute media campaign in case it was needed. Educational gains are already being seen in Birmingham since the tax election was passed. (LS)