This handbook, written in both Spanish and English, is intended to assist parents and relatives of public school children in becoming active and well-informed participants in bilingual-bicultural education. The handbook attempts to do this in four ways: (1) by giving parents a clearer understanding of this educational approach; (2) by suggesting ways in which parents can help to create programs where they do not presently exist; (3) by helping parents determine for themselves whether existing programs are of real service to their children; and (4) by suggesting ways in which the parent can become most effectively involved in the design and operation of these programs. The main chapters of the handbook deal with the following; (1) what bilingual-bicultural education is and who benefits from it; (2) whether children will learn enough English in such a program; (3) what some of the competencies of a bilingual education teacher are; (4) how the instruction is scheduled in a bilingual-bicultural classroom; (5) what parents can do; (6) Illinois transitional Bilingual Education Act: a summary; and (7) other things parents can do to help. (Author/CFM)