The purpose of this guide is to assist local school districts in designing and implementing bilingual education programs that meet Title VII requirements related to the development of local "capacity and commitment" for the delivery of bilingual education services. The guide is organized in seven sections. The first section summarizes steps identified as most relevant to success in building bilingual capacity and commitment. Section 2 explains the rationale for the Title VII interest in capacity and commitment as a key element in the operation of successful bilingual education projects. The next four sections address substantive areas in which bilingual capacity and commitment can be fostered in most school systems; these areas include the bilingual instructional approach, staff development, parent and community involvement, and administration and funding. Section 7 suggests ways to describe capacity and commitment building efforts in a Title VII grant application, and also explains how applications are reviewed when they reach Washington. An appendix contains a list of Title VII funded providers of special assistance to bilingual projects that were operating in 1981-82. (KH)