As a means of encouraging the formation of school-sponsored, citizen advisory committees, the Illinois Citizens Education Council embarked on a 3-year research and development project. This publication describes this project and thereby serves as a guide for organizing and using citizens' education advisory committees. Specific objectives of the project were to determine the most rewarding activities and procedures, and to provide resources for local citizen advisory committees. These include improved selection procedures, demonstration centers, consultants from Illinois colleges and universities, lines of communication, and information. Project organization procedures are described, followed by evaluation methods, organization of committees, and accomplishments in the areas of school policy, school programs, communication between school and community, and other activities. The study investigated committee morale and relationships, committee operation, and reactions of the chairpersons of citizen advisory committees and of college and university consultants. A summary provides recommendations from citizen advisory committees on the following issues: purpose of committees, selection of members, basic rules of operation, affiliated committees, school policy, programs of schools, public information, attitudes toward schools, undesirable activities, and inservice education. Appendixes provide instrumentation used in the project, guidelines for the organization and operation of citizen advisory committees, and sample materials. (TE)