This composition of related attendance studies of both Canada and the United States includes (1) a review of school attendance/nonattendance literature for 1975-86, the results, and a discussion involving the topics of nonattendance correlations, causes, and intervention; (2) a survey of compulsory school attendance legislation, the results, and a discussion of legislative scope, compulsory education exceptions, enforcement against parents, penalties, court jurisdiction, enforcement against students, and statutory alternatives; (3) a survey of programs to increase attendance, decrease absenteeism, and deal with dropouts, the results, and a discussion of the topics of attendance tracking, attendance followup, current research in program evaluation, and the general needs of a good attendance program; and (4) the classification of young male offenders with attendance problems, the results, and a discussion. This document also includes two sections covering the conclusions from an analysis of the four combined studies and the resulting recommendations. Appendices cover recommended readings; components of compulsory school attendance statutes; provinces/territories/states that replied to second inquiries; summaries of Ontario, Canada, and United States compulsory attendance statutes; and a listing of persons contacted during program surveys. (KM)