Giving students a sense of efficacy in the political process is one of the most important functions of social studies education. In order to enable students to assume the responsibilities of fully functioning citizens, it is important for social studies educators to encourage and foster political participation among students as part of the curriculum. This paper is the product of a literature review of school-based community service programs and a survey of individual state programs involving student participation in the community in which questionnaires were sent to all states. About 250 responses were received from state departments of education, school districts, social studies supervisors, individual teachers, and private non-profit organizations. This handbook is intended as a guide to others who are interested in developing and implementing their own programs involving student participation in the community. (Sample application, evaluation, and activity forms are appended). (Author)