This paper provides school district administrators with a structured method for developing school programs aimed at reducing the risk of adolescent dropout. The methodology encompasses problem definition, fact finding, mission management, overcoming inertia, cohering programs tied to theory, feasible goal-setting, and normative personnel re-education. Nine issues influence the planning of program development structure for an entire school system: school system perspective (basic ideology and social beliefs), overall school district mission, personnel inertia (resistance to change), unity of program purposes (coherence), program objectives, program design choices, district norms, quality control, and persistence. (JAM)