Noting studies showing a critical link between students' relation to the school environment and their academic performance, attendance, attitudes, motivation, and post-high school success, particularly for at-risk students, this guide compiles widely recognized strategies to develop students' sense of connection to their school environment. The strategies are organized around four types of connecting experiences: (1) Belonging--including creating schools within schools, promoting positive peer relations, building connections to the community, and providing special help for highly mobile students; (2) Competence--including holding high expectations for students, and providing opportunities for authentic learning and assessment; (3) Empowerment--including providing opportunities for students to work together, and promoting meaningful participation in policy and decision making; and (4) Usefulness--including organizing service learning projects. The guide also includes strategies for fostering connections beyond the school day, in co-curricular activities, extended-day programs, and summer learning programs. The guide's appendices include a school resiliency-building assessment checklist, analysis of extended-day program models, and a brief annotated bibliography. Contains a 178-item bibliography. (HTH)