Parents and community members who want to improve their schools are often told that things "must" be done a certain way because of rules and regulations. Often union contracts are blamed for why certain changes cannot be made. Union contracts may not be the barrier to change, however; management inaction may be the real culprit. This guide is designed to help the reader understand how union contracts affect the day-to-day operation of schools, how union work rules protect the rights of employees, what types of rules are in union contracts and what are not, and how some of these rules can be changed if needed. The following 14 chapters make up this guide: (1) "Introduction"; (2) "Who Makes the Rules"; (3) "Labor Unions and Collective Bargaining"; (4) "Work Rules for Teachers: How They Impact the School"; (5) "Work Rules for Teachers: How They Impact Instruction"; (6) "Work Rules for School Administrators"; (7) "Work Rules for Custodians and Their Employees"; (8) "Work Rules for Aides and Paraprofessionals"; (9) "Other Issues"; (10) "Parent Associations and the Schools"; (11) "Bilingual/English as a Second Language (ESL) Education"; (12) "Special Education"; (13) "Conclusion and Listing of Sources of Assistance"; and (14) "Glossary of Terms." (RT)