The results of a special survey conducted in New Jersey school districts indicated that 90 percent of the responding districts desired more information about comprehensive planning models and needs assessment techniques. In response to the expressed desire of respondents, this handbook presents an overview of the comprehensive planning process, attempts to answer some general questions about the process, reviews the components of the planning process in greater detail to define and clarify each phase and its relationship to the whole, and provides a glossary of common terms used in educational planning. (Author)