The Boston Compact, signed in September 1982, is a formal agreement between the Boston School Department and members of the business community to collaborate in making new educational and employment opportunities available to the city's high school students. Co-signers agreed to the following: (1) assist in developing private sector initiatives in employment training; (2) help double the number of schools participating in the Jobs Collaborative, a school-to-work transition program; (3) recruit 300 companies to participate in a priority hiring program for graduates by 1984; and (4) increase the number of summer jobs available for students by 25 percent by 1984. The business community agreed to hire 400 June 1983 graduates into permanent jobs and to increase the number to 1,000 students by 1985 if they could meet entry-level requirements. On its side, the school department agreed to: (1) reduce both absentee and dropout rates by 5 percent annually; (2) implement increased standards for graduation that would ensure minimal competency in mathematics and reading by 1986; and (3) increase job and college placements after graduation by 5 percent annually. The business community exceeded its goals, but the schools were less successful. Although student performance as measured by standardized tests in mathematics and reading had increased, district average results were still below the national average. Instead of decreasing, the dropout rate increased each year. (FMW)