Within the field of education, the act of planning implies that the schools are more than passive pawns in the hands of socioeconomic forces. The current profound demographic changes, which will continue to reshape the nation and its schools in the coming decades, make strategic planning particulary important. Implementing a strategic plan first involves summarizing and documenting the district's purpose and operations, what it wants to accomplish, and what it does; everyone concerned with public education should participate in the strategic plan's creation. Further, the strategic plan should be fully discussed and publicized before it is implemented; must find its way into the district's budget and job descriptions; and should be for the duration of at least 5 years with annual reviews. (8 references) (KM)