This document is the result of an Institute for Educational Leadership conference convened to brief Congressional staff on dropouts, dropout programs, and what information about dropouts merits consideration by policymakers. This report is intended to be a readable account of the dropout problem appropriate for the general public as well as for policymakers. An executive summary outlines the scope of the dropout problem and lists school-based initiatives that address the dropout problem. This report explores the issue of school dropouts and prevention, reviews the research, examines model programs, studies ways schools can develop links with job training programs, and considers other policy matters. Section 1 provides descriptive data about which students are likely to be at risk. Section 2 examines problems in collecting accurate data on dropouts. Section 3 considers the roles played by the student's in-school experience, family conditions, and work/economic factors in the student's decision to drop out. Section 4 discusses major demographic changes that may make the dropout issue a more significant problem in the future. Section 5 examines the connection between schooling and a dropout's decision to leave. Section 6 looks at successful programs in dropout prevention and dropout vocational guidance. Section 7 suggests policy ideas for federal, state, and local agencies, and for higher education. Lists of resource materials and conference speakers are appended. (NB)