This manual for dropout prevention planning was prepared to assist Florida schools in developing a comprehensive plan for effective dropout prevention programs in compliance with the state's Dropout Prevention Act. The manual is divided into three parts. Part A contains instructions for developing the comprehensive plan, as well as explanations of required components of the plan. Part B contains descriptions of numerous dropout prevention approaches, lists of resources to assess program implementation, criteria for the identification of dropouts, and program evaluation suggestions. Part C addresses each dropout prevention program category separately. Program categories discussed include dropout retrieval, educational alternative, teenage parent, substance abuse, disciplinary, youth services, and community based programs. For each category, statutory criteria, sample goals, program delivery options and components, and examples of promising programs are provided. These items are intended to serve as guidelines and ideas for developing individual dropout prevention program descriptions. Appendices include the Dropout Prevention Act and other relevant statutes, an analysis of dropout rates by district, a table showing births to mothers under 19 by county, forms, information on sources of funding, a list of resource persons, and a program description checklist. A bibliography is included. (ABL)