Public schools across the country are aiming to improve student performance by engaging in comprehensive school reform (CSR). This guide was created to help school districts make CSR an integral part of their strategies for improving student achievement. Five components for CSR are described: (1) Strategizing, whereby the district supports CSR by setting overall standards and goals, allocating resources, and evaluating progress over time; (2) Building Support, whereby the district informs stakeholders and gains the buy-in of the community in the school-reform process; (3) Facilitating Informed Choice, whereby the district helps each school develop a comprehensive school-reform strategy that meets its needs; (4) Forging a New Compact with Schools, whereby the district gives schools increased authority to pursue reform while holding them accountable for results; and (5) Building Capacity, whereby the district creates a capacity-building system that enables each school to strengthen teaching, learning, and leadership. Each of these components begins with a set of practical Action Steps, Action Questions, and Action Tools for exploring, reflecting upon, and organizing actions. A number of assessment tools are included to help in identifying how the district stands relative to the five components and in pinpointing areas in which the district needs immediate attention. (RT)