This handbook for urban school staff provides guidelines and resource materials for implementing school needs assessment and communicating information about programs, services, and events in the school district to the community. It presents field-tested methods which have been utilized in a number of the largest public school districts. Part 1, on the topic of establishing and conducting a school needs assessment summarizes the eight major procedures that should be followed in conducting a needs assessment. It also contains suggested materials for improving school community communications, such as the outline of an exemplary student handbook and a parent survey for use as continuous evaluation of school/community relations. Parts 2 and 3 provide information to help improve the school communication effort, particularly at the individual school building level. The second part of the handbook focuses on using the printed and spoken word to communicate information to various groups. Suggestions are given on how to use the media and the services of the school systems communication specialists. Part 3 contains information and resources that can improve face-to-face situations and obtain feedback from various groups. Emphasis is given to meetings and committee work. (The study that developed this document is reported in CE 024 197.) (YLB)