In an effort to lend technical assistance to rural isolated school systems, the Southeastern Education Laboratory has developed a series of materials and strategies to bring all available resources to bear on local educational problems. First in a series of 7, the "Comprehensive Planning Guide" was developed to assist local school planners in assessing educational needs and in systematically planning strategies to meet these needs. The guide includes (1) instructions for a survey and inventory of needs, (2) establishment of need priorities and suggestions for allocation of resources, and (3) ways to plan program action. School administration, the community, the instructional program, personnel, facilities, special services, and finance are discussed in separate chapters. Tables, charts, and sample forms and questionnaires are included. (JH)