Dropout prevention is emerging as the most important new issue in education. Broad demographic trends predict a continuing growth in the population of at-risk youth, those most likely to drop out of school. The overall goal of any dropout prevention activity is to reduce the number of at-risk students. This issue is devoted to what research and practice tell us about effective dropout prevention programs. These ideas are organized under seven dimensions: (1) planning; (2) collaboration; (3) parental involvement; (4) school climate; (5) staff development; (6) counseling; and (7) attendance. Six examples illustrate what schools and districts are doing to reduce their dropout rate. (MLF)