Abstract: This exploratory study investigates the prevalence, perceived benefits and barriers to the use of open source software (OSS) in public K-12 educational institutions in southwest Ohio. Using a 102-item survey, 45 representatives of school districts provided information about the use of OSS in their district and also responded to items about perceptions of benefits, barriers, and software characteristics important to OSS implementation. The results of the study suggest areas in which OSS is more likely to be implemented and also identify several perceived barriers to successful implementation of OSS on teacher and student workstations as well as server and network systems.