California provides the paradigm for lessening devastating earthquake damage in U.S. buildings. This document examines specific examples of the seismic mitigation process, a process showing that seismic retrofit in existing schools in other parts of the country are possible and could lead to more general seismic rehabilitation in other buildings. The report suggests that school facilities at risk for earthquake damage need a strategy of integrating the planning and implementation of seismic strengthening into the overall process of facility maintenance and capital improvement planning. Such a strategy is already being implemented in eight school districts in various regions of the United States. Findings from these projects suggest that jurisdictions in the United States can be categorized by a gradient of seismic awareness and the ability to act on it. California and Seattle are viewed as being the most aware and active states. The majority of the document contains appendices providing detailed case studies of the seismic mitigation activities, funding, and legal issues within the following school districts: Memphis (Tennessee); Blytheville (Arkansas); Seattle (Washington); Portland (Oregon); Ogden (Utah); and New York City (New York). (GR)