This booklet is designed to aid school personnel, parents, and community members in developing special educational programs that might qualify for support from federal, state, or local government agencies or from private foundations. The discussion is organized into three main chapters that focus in turn on the three stages of the proposal development process: 1) conducting a needs assessment, 2) planning a special educational program, and 3) writing a proposal for government funding. Throughout each chapter, the services available to proposal developers from the Chicago school district's Department of Government Funded Programs are described. Although the booklet is aimed primarily at school officials in the Chicago Public Schools, much of its content will be helpful to those in other school districts as well. (Author/JG)