Data from a survey of all high school districts in California, site visits to 29 junior and senior high schools, and visits to high schools in several other states revealed a sense of powerlessness on the part of students. Complaints focus on inconsistent application of rules, harassment by other students, and indifferent or unfair treatment by teachers. The six mechanisms intended to resolve issues initiated by students are counselors, student councils, student-faculty committees, student advocates, appeal boards, and ombudsmen. Redesign and implementation procedures for solving problems in schools should be based on the following principles: simplicity; student and teacher involvement; prompt, specific, written responses; access to the procedure with freedom from reprisals; wider jurisdiction; neutral, disinterested review; and careful implementation based on administrative leadership, training, orientation, and monitoring.