STEP IS A PART-TIME SCHOOL, PART-TIME WORK PROGRAM DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF POTENTIAL SCHOOL DROPOUTS 15 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. PUPILS ATTEND SCHOOL IN THE MORNING AND WORK IN THE AFTERNOONS. THE TEACHER-COORDINATOR PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE AND MEETS WITH A GROUP OF 15 TO 20 PUPILS DAILY TO "ORIENT" THEM TO SCHOOL AND WORK EXPERIENCES. 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, STEP ORIENTATION IN THE MORNING, AND WORK AS A CLERK, MESSENGER, STOCK BOY, CUSTODIAN, OR GENERAL HELPER IN THE AFTERNOON. THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS WERE PLACED WITH PRIVATE AGENCIES, BUT SOME WERE ASSIGNED TO WORK STATIONS IN TAX-SUPPORTED AGENCIES. CASES PRESENTED SHOW THESE RESULTS--IN 1962-63, 27 PERCENT OF THE PUPILS WERE RETURNED TO A 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 5 PERCENT BECAME SCHOOL DROPOUTS. A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE FOLLOWUP STUDY ARE REPORTED IN THE "NO INFORMATION" CATEGORY. SIXTY-SIX PERCENT OF THE ACTIVE BUT ONLY 48 PERCENT OF THE CONTROL GROUP WERE EITHER IN SCHOOL OR EMPLOYED IN JUNE 1963.