STEP IS A PART-TIME SCHOOL, PART-TIME WORK PROGRAM FOR POTENTIAL SCHOOL DROPOUTS 15 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. PUPILS ATTEND SCHOOL IN THE MORNING AND WORK IN THE AFTERNOON. THE TEACHER-COORDINATOR PLAYS THE KEY ROLE AND MEETS WITH A GROUP OF 15 TO 20 PUPILS DAILY TO "ORIENT" THEM TO SCHOOL AND WORK. THE COORDINATOR COUNSELS HIS PUPILS INDIVIDUALLY, PLACES THEM, AND SUPERVISES THEIR WORK EXPERIENCE. A TYPICAL DAY INCLUDES A PERIOD EACH OF ENGLISH, SOCIAL STUDIES, AN ELECTIVE, AND STEP ORIENTATION IN THE MORNING, AND WORK AS CLERKS, MESSENGERS, STOCK BOYS, CUSTODIANS, OR GENERAL HELPERS IN THE AFTERNOON. THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS WERE PLACED IN PRIVATE AGENCIES. SOME OF THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN--IN 1962-63 27 PERCENT OF THE PUPILS WERE RETURNED TO THE NORMAL SCHOOL PROGRAM, 11 PERCENT ENTERED FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT, 13 PERCENT WERE REMOVED FOR LACK OF PROGRESS, 44 PERCENT COMPLETED THE YEAR IN STEP, AND ONLY 5 PERCENT BECAME SCHOOL DROPOUTS. CASE STUDIES OF 12 STUDENTS ARE INCLUDED AND SERVE TO SHOW THE UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE THE PROGRAM OFFERED MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO FACED AN UNPROMISING FUTURE.