How can teachers and administrators steer students toward graduation and away from dropping out? What determining factors contribute to a student's choice to drop out? Why is high school graduation such an important issue in society today? Effective prevention and intervention programs for the most vulnerable students are key to improving graduation rates. This practitioner-friendly resource offers guidelines for implementing dropout prevention strategies in the classroom, throughout the school, and at the district level. This book melds research and practical tools to include both evidence-based intervention models and real-world examples. With the goal of producing an educated citizenry that contributes to the world in positive ways, the authors present tools and a plan for: (1) Increasing graduation rates while decreasing dropout rates; (2) Meeting the standards set by the No Child Left Behind Act; (3) Pinpointing the most critical years for establishing a solid educational foundation; and (4) Connecting with other groups to share ideas and prepare for change. The impact of increased graduation rates reaches beyond statistics-more graduates mean more individuals who are better prepared to meet the challenges of life after school, and better outcomes for youth, schools, and society in general. After a preface, this book is divided into the following sections: (1) What This Book is About; (2) Getting Started; (3) Putting the Problem of Dropout in Context: Looking at the Numbers; (4) Understanding Why: Looking at the Reasons, the Process, and the Approach; (5) Considering What to Work on: Contextual Influences and Indicators; (6) Clarifying the Focus: Prevention and Intervention Programs; (7) Putting the Pieces Together; (8) Deciding What to Do; (9) Maintaining Momentum; and (10) Evaluating Effectiveness. Three resources; and index are also included.