The America's Promise Alliance is supporting 50 state and at least 50 city Dropout Prevention Summits to be held by 2010. The purposes of the Dropout Prevention Summits are many, but the primary intention is to increase public awareness of the dropout and college-readiness crisis. The Forum for Youth Investment, America's Promise Alliance, United Way of America and our other Ready by 21 partners wrote this guide to provide cities and states who will be hosting summits with steps to get started and think intentionally about summit planning as well as the follow-up action plans and implementation that are critical for real reductions in school dropout rates. [This document was published with the Ready by 21[R] Partners.]