THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYED SCHOOL DROPOUTS THROUGH EFFORTS WITH POTENTIAL DROPOUTS, 15 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER, WHILE THEY ARE STILL IN SCHOOL THE EFFORTS ARE DESIGNED TO ENABLE STUDENTS TO RETURN SUCCESSFULLY TO THE NORMAL PROGRAM AND GRADUATE, OR TO OBTAIN SATISFACTORY FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT IF THEY SOULD LEAVE SCHOOL. STEP STUDENTS ATTEND SCHOOL IN THE MORNING AND ARE EMPLOYED IN SUPERVISED WORK IN THE AFTERNOON. IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIRED ORIENTATION CLASSES, THE STUDENTS PURSUE CLASSES IN THE REGULAR CURRICULUM. THE MAJORITY OF ALL JOB PLACEMENTS IS MADE IN SITUATIONS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION. ONLY 2 PERCENT OF STEP GROUP DROPPED COMPLETELY OUT OF THE SCHOOL PROGRAM. ANOTHER 7 PERCENT WERE GUIDED TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT AND 5 PERCENT RETURNED TO THE NORMAL SCHOOL PROGRAM. THE REST OF THE STUDENTS ARE STILL INVOLVED IN STEP WORK-STUDY PROGRAM AFTER THE FIRST YEAR.