In order to examine the role and effectiveness of community organizations in increasing parental and community involvement in educational decision making, a research project was initiated which included three elements: (1) case studies documenting the behavior of organizations and internal and external factors that influence their functioning, (2) a comparative analysis of organizational characteristics related to effectiveness, and (3) an examination of the degree to which networking contributes to the ability of organizations to increase citizen's access to information. Special attention was paid to the participation of minority communities. The three cities in which the research took place were Los Angeles, California; Atlanta, Georgia; and Boston, Massachusetts. This report summarizes the research design, methodology, findings, and implications. (MK)