A vast number of different types of citizens' groups participate in the educational process with differing degrees of involvement. Besides school-oriented groups, there are child advocacy and neighborhood associations, other citizens groups that have broad concerns but are in part interested in schools, and the advisory committees created by legal mandates. Little power has actually been transferred to citizens because professionals and school boards resist sharing power and collective bargaining agreements have diminished citizen access to decision making. The strongest challenges to both local and professional autonomy now come from Federal and State mandates for citizen participation. Shared power is a realistic objective, but it can only be achieved if mandated citizens' groups are given authority, support, and access to information, and if voluntary citizens' groups, which are more likely to reflect diverse community interests than mandated groups, are strengthened. (Author/MK)