Intended to provide a comprehensive view of parental involvement in school districts receiving federal education funds, this study collected data on four federal programs in 57 projects across the country. Titles I and VII of the Elementary Secondary Education Act, the Emergency School Aid Act, and Follow Through were examined. The entire study is presented in seven volumes. This report comprises volume 1 and discusses three objectives of the study--describing the nature and types of parental involvement, analyzing the factors that facilitate or inhibit parental involvement, and identifying the consequences of parental involvement. The researchers stipulate five ways in which parents can participate in local projects, including governance, instruction, parent education, school support, and community-school relations. Facilitating and inhibiting factors are delineated for each type of participation. Consequences of parental involvement are also presented according to the type of participation and demonstrate the effects of such participation on institutional arrangements as well as on the attitudes and behaviors of administrators, teachers, parents, and students. Two final sections of the report give answers to frequently asked questions about parental involvement and place the study's findings within the context of a changing federal role in education. (Author/WD)