This paper describes a study designed to (1) identify valid items that school boards must consider to assure that lay participation is encouraged and controlled; and (2) determine to what extent these items were incorporated into the present school board policy manuals, and to what extent they were being used in the practices of school boards during the course of their meetings. The study produced recommendations designed to ameliorate conditions such as the lack of communication between boards and constituents, distrust of one group by another, chaotic meetings, and a lack of knowledge concerning what constitutes adequate policy for lay participation. Guidelines were developed both for written statements by the board and for meeting procedures. (Author/JF)