This study is a snapshot of some school districts in California that are slightly ahead of their peers, though still in the early stages of this change process. What is important about the study is, first, the optimistic finding that capacity to support schools and school improvement can be built within school districts, at least in those large enough to support a central office staff. And, second, the study sheds some light on some of the high-leverage strategies that district leaders are adopting to replace the old focus on administration and compliance. Appended are: (1) Tools and Artifacts; (2) Performance Data; (3) Evidence of Sustained Growth 2004-2005;(4) Glossary; (5) Further Reading; and (6) Springboard Board of Trustees. (Contains 9 footnotes.)