A PROJECT TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM OF REHABILITATION THAT WOULD GUIDE SCHOOL DROPOUTS BACK TO SCHOOL OR INTO A LEARNING SITUATION THAT WOULD PROVIDE THEM WITH BASIC EDUCATIONAL AND JOB SKILLS WAS DESCRIBED. THE PROCEDURES OF THE PROJECT INCLUDED--DEVELOPING A PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE REHABILITATION OF DROPOUTS, RENTING AN OFFICE, HIRING ADMINISTRATORS, COUNSELORS, AND CASEWORKERS, FORMULATING AND TESTING INTERVIEW FORMS, LOCATING AND INTERVIEWING DROPOUTS, HOLDING FOLLOWUP MEETINGS WITH COUNSELORS AND THE CASEWORKER, AND COLLECTING, ANALYZING, AND RECOMMENDING FOR REVISION THE FINDINGS OF THE 3-MONTH PILOT PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM WAS BASED ON FOUR ASSUMPTIONS--EACH YEAR A MILLION BOYS AND GIRLS DROP OUT OF SCHOOL, THERE SHOULD BE AN EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL DROPOUTS AND THE INITIATION OF STEPS BY SCHOOLS AND OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO PREVENT DROPOUTS, WHEN A PUPIL DROPS OUT OF SCHOOL, A REHABILITATION AGENCY WORKING IN CONCERT WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN RECRUITING THE DROPOUT INTO A CONTINUOUS PROGRAM OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING, AND A GOOD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A DROPOUT AND COMPETENT COUNSELOR SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO HELP THE DROPOUT DEVELOP HIGH ASPIRATIONS AND A POSITIVE SELF-CONCEPT. CHARACTERISTICS OF DROPOUTS WERE DETERMINED PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS INCLUDED AGE, SEX, MARITAL STATUS, NUMBER OF CHILDREN, AND THE SUPPORT OF SUCH CHILDREN. HOME CHARACTERISTICS INCLUDED FAMILY SIZE, MOBILITY, SUPPORT, AND HEALTH CONDITIONS. EDUCATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS INCLUDED LAST GRADE COMPLETED IN SCHOOL, REASONS FOR LEAVING SCHOOL, AND GENERAL ATTITUDE TOWARD SCHOOL. DELINQUENT CHARACTERISTICS INCLUDED INVOLVEMENT WITH POLICE AND INCARCERATIONS. MOST DROPOUTS WANTED EITHER TO RETURN TO SCHOOL OR TO OBTAIN JOB TRAINING.