The presentation refers to evaluation designs and which kind of results can be expected. The subjects of the evaluation are three complex projects of school development in Germany: In P1 ("School and Co") 52 schools were included. The focus was development of teaching and systematic exchange with the (social) environment. In P2 ("Quality of schools network") 64 schools took part and tried out a variety of approaches and instruments to improve quality of schools. P3 ("Autonomy of school") includes 278 schools. The evaluation of P1 occured ex post, based on several case studies and a survey. The evaluation of P2 was done continuously, based on reports (self-evaluation) and several surveys. The evaluation of P3 is an ambitious longitudinal study, which includes performance indicators and achievement tests at three measurement points. Multilevel analysis shall explain the effects of distant factors like school leadership or the existence of mission statements on students performance. The outcome of the evaluation of P1 and P2 is the exploring of the important role of steering committees on the development of teaching and learning and the detection of distinctive phases and rangorders of development. The evaluation of P3 proposes the identification of causal chains and a stronger definition of autonomy.