School reform efforts today have a personal focus that emphasizes attending to the problems faced by individual at-risk students. After outlining the impact of student dropouts, this document uses information from a review of 150 at-risk student programs described in related professional literature to describe six basic weaknesses in current at-risk programs. Most programs reviewed failed to: (1) exhibit a design to meet needs identified via a formal assessment process; (2) integrate effectively with the school's total education program; (3) adequately address the social and emotional needs of at-risk students; (4) offer preventive strategies at the elementary school level; (5) adequately serve the most problematic at-risk students; and (6) address at-risk students' negative perception of the value of learning. A seven-step process for developing administrative strategies to implement programs that would meet at-risk students' needs is described: creating a climate for change; conducting an appropriate needs assessment; initiating organizational changes; assessing organization resources; determining program objectives; designing program components; and implementing the action plan. Last, steps for creating a more caring, supportive, and nurturing educational climate are described. (CLA)