This handbook was developed to provide guidance concerning the consistent maintenance of staff information by education agencies, schools, early childhood centers, and other institutions and for researchers involved in the collection of staff data. The handbook is not a data collection instrument, nor does it reflect any federal data maintenance requirements. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the handbook and its uses. Chapter 2 contains a more detailed description of the Handbook's contents and uses, and Chapter 3, discusses the collection, use, and dissemination of data and information about individual staff members and how staff record systems can benefit the staff and school system. Chapter 4 contains the elements and definitions that describe staff members and their jobs. Chapter 5 describes possible applications of the handbook. A table is provided that includes information about data element type and field length. Following a glossary and index are 13 appendixes that contain supplemental information, including lists of coding options. (SLD)