The book addresses issues in meeting the educational needs of disruptive students. In the introduction, R. Sarri examines the rise of alternative schools and discusses common elements in their design and operation. D. Sabatino follows with "Issues and Concerns: Problems with Alternative Schools," in which he examines the particular difficulties involved in evaluating alternative programs. Four alternative programs are described in depth: Learning Center II, a program administered jointly by the local education agency and the Washington State Juvenile Rehabilitation Division; Bellefaire School (Cleveland, Ohio), an integrated program of group living, education, and psychotherapy; Longfellow Education Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota), designed for multiply handicapped students with severe emotional disturbances; and Special People Realizing Individual New Goals (Atlanta, Georgia), an approach to teaching survival skills to senior high disturbed students. Brief overview descriptions of 12 additional alternative programs are presented: SAIL Project (Student Advocates Inspire Learning) in Minnetonka, MN; the Starr Commonwealth Schools Alternative Education Program (Van Wert, OH); Delta County Education Center (Gladstone, MI); Chana High School (Auburn, CA); Wallbridge Academy (Grand Rapids, MI); Horizons High School (Wyoming, MI); Kansas City Youth Diversion Project (Kansas City, MO); LIFE Center (Albuquerque, NM); Alternative Program (State College, PA); William Smith High School (Aurora, CO); Partners School (Denver, CO); and Project CITE (Crisis Intervention Techniques for Education) in Terrell, TX. (CL)