This report, authorized by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, contains information on the School Meals Initiative for Healthy Children (SMI), a reform of school-meals programs aimed at upgrading the nutritional content of school meals. The purpose of the study was to describe and evaluate: (1) overall implementation of the SMI; (2) key operational characteristics of school-meals programs at both the school district and state agency level; and (3) training and technical assistance associated with school-meals programs. Findings are based on data collected from self-administered mail surveys, supplemented by telephone interviews, from a nationally representative sample of school food directors in 2,038 school districts and from 50 state child nutrition agencies responsible for administrating school-meals programs. This first of three reports covers the 1997-98 school year. Key findings are summarized under the following broad topics: overall status of SMI implementation; procedures followed in implementing the SMI; impact of the SMI; the role of training and technical assistance; and the role of state child nutrition agencies. The report contains numerous tables and the survey instruments used for the data collection. (WFA)