Designed to assist local board of education members, administrators, teachers, and parents, this guide provides information on planning a comprehensive computer education program and on selecting hardware and software. Planning topics discussed include purposes/types of computer use, staff training, location, distribution of computers across schools and programs, guidelines for evaluating hardware and software, and budget considerations. A model depicts an overview of microcomputers in education. Also provided are a checklist of questions to consider before selecting software/courseware, a list of software source reviews, a discussion of hardware selection, and a list of hardware selection criteria. A resource section lists books and databases, videotapes, periodicals, and associations and organizations that deal with the topic of educational computing; the names of several New Mexico educational computing resource people; and computer bibliographies available through the Educational Resource Center of the New Mexico State Department of Education. (LMM)