The School Effectiveness Training Program (SET) and the Secondary School Development Program (SSDP) were school-improvement programs developed by the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), a state teachers' organization, and Research for Better Schools (RBS), a regional educational laboratory. Coordinating councils played pivotal roles in both the SET Program and the SSDP. The councils, cooperating with the principal, were responsible for setting the program goals and objectives and establishing operational and procedural guidelines. Among the activities council members undertake are: collect data about conditions of the school; interpret and analyze data; set school improvement priorities; etc. In addition to performing a variety of functions, council members must work cooperatively and effectively in a variety of group settings. This handbook was developed to identify selected skills that would strengthen council members' interactional skills and problem-solving abilities. Sections focus on the following interrelated processes for educational change: team building, prioritizing, problem solving, planning, and analyzing implementation. Sample worksheets are included. (LMI)