Reviews various alternative education programs. Argues that educators need to balance the alternatives offered within a school district, giving choices to a wide range of student abilities, not just to potential dropouts. (FL)

Describes a study comparing profiles of students identified subjectively by teachers as at-risk to profiles of students who dropped out and to "normal" students. Results suggest that teachers judgement is influenced by the make up of the entire class and more objective assessment instruments should be used. (SD)

Describes the Meaningful Other Person (MOP) program instituted at a North Carolina ninth grade center that reduced the dropout rate by 50 percent. (FL)

Describes a program in which high school students in a dropout-prevention program made twice-weekly visits to work as volunteers at a school that includes students with multiple, severe disabilities. (SR)

This article describes a pilot program to identify students with irregular attendance and to coordinate follow-up services for them. (SJL)

Integrates existing literature with the authors' research that examines resiliency (students in danger of dropping out of school who are able to develop stable, healthy personas and are able to recover from or adapt to life's stresses or problems). Suggests a model to explain resiliency that can be used to better understand why these students have…

Describes the Career Exploratory Program, a successful alternative program developed at Mexico Senior High School, Missouri, for ninth and tenth grade students considered to be potential drop-outs, and based on hands-on, prevocational courses in core skill areas. (SR)

Reports on high schools' efforts to break the academic failure cycle and prevent drop-outs. Describes and reports the outcomes of the peer tutoring/mentoring pilot program developed as part of a major collaborative effort between the City University of New York and the New York City Board of Education. (JK)