The suggestions, discussions, examples, and tips presented in this handbook are intended to help educators improve their public relations (PR) and communications skills. The first of the book's six chapters introduces the need for a written communications policy, good PR, regular communications, and feedback from audiences. The chapter's appendices provide examples of PR policy statements and a form for organizing meeting results. Chapter 2 discusses finding the right audience, inside or outside the school system, and targeting appropriate information to them. Public opinion polling is covered in chapter 3, which explains how to do surveys and offers examples of sampling strategies and questionnaires. Chapter 4 covers working with the mass media and outlines a six-step process for getting out news releases. Publications planning, formats, copy preparation, type faces and sizes, and artwork are examined in chapter 5, while the last chapter gives suggestions for handling PR in crisis situations. Attached to the handbook are 40 "tip sheets" from the National School Public Relations Association presenting PR ideas and projects involving newsletters, teacher PR skills, student handbooks, telephone surveys, annual reports, and many other topics. (RW)