THE PROBLEM OF THE INCREASINGLY LARGE NUMBERS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE LEAVING HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE GRADUATION WAS PRESENTED. SPEAKERS AND DISCUSSION GROUPS AT THE WORKSHOP AIMED AT PRESENTING THE PLIGHT OF THE DROPOUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF AWAKENING AND MOBILIZING SOCIAL, CIVIC, POLITICAL, BUSINESS, AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN AN EFFORT TO ASSIST YOUTH AND THEIR PARENTS WITH THEIR PROBLEMS. INITIAL GREETINGS AND INTRODUCTIONS AT THE WORKSHOP WERE FOLLOWED BY THE KEYNOTE SPEECH BY MR. OTIS FINLEY, JR. THE SPEECH, ENTITLED "MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF THE DROPOUT," STRESSED THE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS OF NEGRO DROPOUTS WHO MUST FACE THE PROSPECT OF A JOB IN THE LOWEST OCCUPATIONAL CATEGORIES WITH A MUCH LOWER EARNING POWER THAN WHITES DUE TO DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES. MR. FINLEY OFFERED NO PANACEA TO THE PROBLEM, BUT ASSERTED THAT IT IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM REQUIRING INTERRACIAL TEAMWORK AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION. THE REMAINDER OF THE WORKSHOP WAS DEVOTED TO THE NINE DISCUSSION GROUPS WHICH DISCUSSED TWO MAJOR TOPICS--(1) THE PROBLEM - THE WHO, WHERE, AND WHY OF THE DROPOUT, AND (2) TECHNIQUES, METHODS, AND RESOURCES FOR ALLEVIATING THE SITUATION. NUMEROUS RECOMMENDATIONS, ACTION PLANS, AND SUGGESTIONS WERE COMPILED FROM THE GROUP REPORTS. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL INCLUDED--SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSES, READING CLINICS, VOCATIONAL COURSES, WORK-STUDY PROGRAM, FINANCIAL AID, AND GUIDANCE SERVICES. OTHER SUGGESTIONS INVOLVED THE NECESSITY FOR PARENT PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL MATTERS, BETTER HOME-SCHOOL RELATIONSHIPS, THE SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY SOCIAL AGENCIES, AND ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT OF THE CHURCH IN THE MORAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE DROPOUT PROBLEM.