A Futures Primer for Local Education Agencies. Research Report No. 14 of Project SIMU School: Santa Clara County Component.

This document contains a series of exercises and materials designed by the Futures Task Force to sensitize fellow citizens to rapid change and to encourage them to begin thinking in terms of what the future may bring in their community. Nine sections comprise the publication and cover: (1) a brief history describing the formation of the Futures Task Force, its workings, and the difficulties it encountered; (2) a bibliography of books and articles on futurism; (3) a description of a tape/slide narrative and set of graphics on planning for an uncertain future; (4) three fictionalized scenarios of the future in 1985 designed as "think pieces" and followed by an exercise wherein the reader creates a fourth; (5) a glossary of alternative definitions and images of educational terms for the future; (6) future issues facing education; (7) a two-part exercise illustrating how values held affect the group process and planning outcomes; (8) facts and trends with relevance for educational planning; and (9) testing educational plans for future feasibility. (Author/DN)