Provided are suggestions and recommendations for each item on the checklist, contained in Part A of the handbook, which was designed to help elementary school principals assess and improve science programs in their schools. Suggestions/recommendations, designed to make the checklist more meaningful and useful, are keyed by number and/or letter to specific questions presented in the four major sections of the checklist. These sections deal with areas that have a great impact on science programs. The first section focuses on administrative aspects, considering the school science curriculum plan, provisions for science in the budget, the principal's leadership role, and staff development practices. The second section focuses on science texts and/or written curriculum materials, discussing science content, process, and several related areas. The third section focuses on observations of teacher and student behavior during science classes, considering observation techniques, questioning strategies, student attitudes, and other areas. Science resources and facilities are examined in the final section, looking for evidence of these resources/facilities in and beyond the classroom, and determining how resources are acquired. (JN)