This guide has two main objectives: (1) to help school board members become better governors of the local educational enterprise; and (2) to help school board members respond to questions from the public about the National Commission on Excellence in Education report entitled "A Nation at Risk." To meet these objectives, the guide offers a process model through which board members can more effectively approach education by establishing the policy framework in which it can thrive and the procedural base for evaluating it on a continuing basis. The model takes into account the setting of goals, curriculum development, standards and expectations, teaching, time, leadership, fiscal support, involving the community, implementing the process, and measuring outcomes. The role of the Federal government in quality education is also discussed. The guide ends with a list of questions to be used by board members as a way of assessing how much they know about their school district and in which areas they need more information. Where applicable, a feature entitled "Comparatively Speaking" outlines the National Commission's findings as they might apply to local communities, as well as the findings of other studies. (CMG)