One of a series designed to help school arts support groups increase public commitment to their programs, this monograph addresses the concerns of local school boards in instituting or maintaining arts education. Content is divided into 10 sections that cover rationale for arts education, local problems of budgeting and cutbacks, obtaining backing of key school administrators, gaining community consensus, stating policies and objectives, long-range planning, program evaluation, and the need for strong leadership. The bulk of the monograph focuses on strategies for developing community commitment to arts in the schools. Divided into subsections, the report discusses methods of combining budget requests, obtaining assistance, using publicity effectively, using community arts organizations, establishing networks, choosing school board candidates, and presenting arts education as one of the "basics." (LP)