This guidebook is part of a series of program materials for a school-based intervention process to help at-risk students stay in school. An introduction sets forth the responsibilities of the adminstrator/planner. The rest of the booklet contains suggestions for ways to carry out the administrator/planner role creatively and effectively. The following steps are described: perform a needs assessment, access the needed resources, form a dropout prevention task force, adopt or develop a program model, prepare a written agreement, allocate staff and resources, reorganize school structures, manage the program budget, provide inservice, encourage flexibility and creativity, evaluate the program, and review evaluation findings with the task force. (YLB)