The findings of 22 significant and accessible studies of community involvement in school board policy formation, selected from over 130 relevant studies, are analyzed in this report to provide lay activists with information that could prove useful in efforts to influence policy-making. This information is organized in a question-and-answer format, with relevant findings cited as supporting evidence for the answers provided to specific questions in the following broad categories: (1) do administrators follow school board mandates? (2) do school boards follow voters' wishes? (3) is electoral support the major source of power? (4) how is board responsiveness measured? (5) does board organization affect responsiveness? (6) do all community interests have equal impact? (7) are boards equally responsive on all issues? and (8) are boards equally responsive to all influencing strategies? The responses are designed to clarify when, why, and how to lobby. The report also provides a description of the study sample analyzed, a brief history of the literature, and a review of the implications of the findings. A bibliography lists 62 documents, citing ERIC document number where appropriate. (PGD)