In 2003, education program officials at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation asked attorneys at the University of Washington's Center on Reinventing Public Education to explore legal issues affecting the establishment and operation of small high schools in Washington State. Although this guide will be of interest to small school advocates everywhere, it is intended primarily for people engaged in small high school reform efforts in Washington State. This report aims to help small high schools design and operate effective programs by providing greater clarity about potential legal and policy impediments, and by providing information on how to work within the current legal and regulatory system. In general, the authors believe that no pressing legal obstacles stand between small high school advocates and their vision of more effective and personalized small high schools. The system clearly can accommodate that vision. Small school advocates will find that their best chance for success in the near term lies in understanding their options under current law, including seeking waivers and using alternative education provisions. Appended are: (1) Additional Resources; (2) Letter from Larry Davis, Washington State Board of Education; (3) Washington State Highly Qualified Teacher Requirements; and (4) Acknowledgments.