Educational reform poses problems for administrators in rural areas who have limited time and resources. This guide offers a process that can be used by rural administrators to engage the community in activities that will enhance children's success in the classroom and in their adult lives. Section 1 discusses the importance of community engagement. Section 2 describes 11 key steps of the process in 4 phases and emphasizes the importance of celebration, team building, and maintaining two-way communications. Phase 1, getting organized, consists of three steps: committing, establishing a team, and selecting co-facilitators. Steps in phase 2, studying the situation, are mapping community assets and collecting and analyzing the data. Phase 3, taking responsive action, is composed of three steps: articulating a vision and goals, developing action plans, and implementing action plans. Phase 4, evaluating and reporting results, contains three steps: monitoring progress, evaluating and reporting on the impact of the action plan, and monitoring and refining the action plan. Section 3 discusses how research and best practice help shape school-community action plans. Section 4 contains 65 references and short descriptions and contact information for 20 organizations and 10 regional educational laboratories that can be used as resources. Ten appendices present research findings about community engagement, dealing with change and disagreements, and provide inventories, checklists, and other planning materials for use in the community engagement process. (TD)