School board members have long recognized the importance of involving parents and the community in the public schools. Yet, there has never been a greater gap between school and community, partly because almost 70 percent of adults do not have any school-age children, and partly because the public seems to want a far more active relationship with educators than it now has in determining the direction of the local schools. This guide is designed to help school board members through the community-engagement process. It includes help in understanding the rationale, benefits, and concerns that are part of the process of convening the community. Although the specifics of community engagement will be unique for every community, experience shows that success is based on some common principles, a good plan, and continuous work. These principles are described in this guide, along with proved engagement methods and steps to take to be successful. Through well-designed public-engagement efforts, school boards can lead their communities to work actively with the schools to raise student achievement. The guide concludes with a list of organizational resources and publications. (Contains 13 references.) (RT)