This text is one of a series of three handbooks, each intended to provide busy educational executives with a brief, practical overview of one major issue or movement. The book describes some of the current circumstances that are giving rise to interest in year-round community school programs, differentiates between plans that incorporate year-round use of facilities and those that provide year-round opportunities for pupils to attend school, and summarizes educational principles supporting the logic of year-round community school concepts. The document also presents a capsule summary of some of the major patterns presently being used for year-round school organization. Some of the plans discussed include the consecutive quarter, multiple trails, trimester, staggered quarter, 45-15, 8/9-2, quinmester, and the modified summer school plan. The booklet concludes by examining some of the major obstacles to be overcome in implementing a year-round school program and by defining and analyzing some major administrative tasks involved in year-round community school program planning and organization. Related documents are EA 005 233 and EA 005 281. (Author/DN)