This booklet provides prospective and current Catholic school board members with basic information concerning civil law as it affects schools in general and Catholic schools in particular. Chapter 1 describes the two main types of Catholic school boards: consultative boards, in which the pastor of the diocese has final authority to accept the recommendations; and boards with limited jurisdiction, constituted by the pastor to govern the parish education program, subject to certain decisions reserved to the pastor and the bishop. Chapter 2 outlines the laws affecting Catholic education in the United States, including constitutional law, statutes and regulations, common law, and contract law. Chapter 3 discusses tort liability of schools, focusing on cases brought against schools for negligence, corporal punishment, search and seizure, and defamation. Chapter 4 discusses the duties and rights of school employees, particularly with regard to discipline and dismissal of teachers. Chapter 5 discusses the duties and responsibilities of board members to the diocese and church, to the principal, to teachers, and to parents, students, and the community. The concluding chapter offers general recommendations to Catholic board members for dealing with tort law, for developing a parent/student handbook that expresses the school board's philosophy, and for adhering to due process. A glossary of terms is included. (TE)