A current project of the Southeastern Public Education Program (SEPEP) of the American Friends Service Committee is strengthening the implementation of parental involvement requirements of Title I of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Toward this end, SEPEP has provided technical assistance to parent advisory council members in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. The project has found that, although nearly a decade has elapsed since the mandatory creation of Title I Parent Advisory Councils (PAC's), in most of the rural south such councils are still struggling for legitimacy and role definition. Some schools have created "paper PAC's" which seldom, if ever, function. Other districts have limited the scope of meetings to such activities as open houses, style shows, or classes to train parents to help their children with school work. Many schools appeared unwilling to provide the information and training necessary for parents to serve effectively on the councils. In spite of the generally negative experiences encountered, the SEPEP staff did find school officials and parents whose attitudes contributed to successful implementation of PAC's. Factors contributing to such success were: (1) a clear message from the school of "we want your support," (2) regular monthly meetings devoted to legitimate concerns, (3) efforts to educate parents about the program, and (4) attitudes of state and federal officials charged with enforcing Title I laws. Eleven recommendations for improving PAC implementation conclude this paper. (DS)