THE BUREAU OF GUIDANCE OF THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT INITIATES DEMONSTRATION GUIDANCE PROJECTS FOR DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS WHICH ARE CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT THE STATE. PROPOSALS FOR THESE PROJECTS ARE SUBMITTED BY THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS BECAUSE GUIDANCE AND EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS CONDUCTED AT THIS LEVEL ARE MOST PROMISING. PROJECT ABLE SUPPORTS COMPENSATORY EDUCATION PROGRAMS ON VARIOUS GRADE LEVELS FOR TALENTED BUT DEPRIVED STUDENTS. TALENT SEARCH IS SIMILAR TO PROJECT ABLE EXCEPT THAT IT INVOLVES ONLY DISADVANTAGED SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND OFFERS THEM ONLY ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE SERVICES. STEP (SCHOOL TO EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM), WORK-STUDY PROGRAM, WAS ESTABLISHED FOR POTENTIAL DROPOUTS. THE NOW-COMPLETED HOLDING POWER PROJECT TRIED TO DISCOVER HOW SPECIFIC GUIDANCE SERVICES CAN REDUCE THE DROPOUT RATE, AND FOUND THAT EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL DROPOUTS AND CLOSE COORDINATION OF STAFF EFFORTS INCREASE SCHOOL HOLDING POWER. THE TOTAL ATTITUDE AND EFFORTS OF COUNSELORS, INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF, FELLOW STUDENTS, AND ESPECIALLY PARENTS INFLUENCED A POTENTIAL DROPOUT'S DECISION TO STAY IN SCHOOL. IN GENERAL, AS CULTURAL MEDIATOR THE SLUM SCHOOL COUNSELOR MUST, UNLIKE HIS SUBURBAN COUNTERPART, REACH OUT TO COMMUNICATE WITH STUDENTS AND PARENTS TO MAKE THEM SENSITIVE TO COURSES OF ACTION WHICH WILL LEAD THEM AWAY FROM SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BOUNDARIES IMPOSED BY THE GHETTO. (LB)