Examined in this book are issues related to the education of at-risk children and youth. Part 1 of the volume consists of 12 original papers presented and discussed at the Council of Chief State School Officers' (CCSSO) 1987 Summer Institute. Papers concern: (1) values, standards, and climate in schools serving students at risk; (2) schools and poor communities; (3) race, income, and educational inequality; (4) why effective schools rarely exist for at-risk elementary school and adolescent students; (5) contexts that constrict and construct the lives and minds of public school adolescents; (6) educational challenges and opportunities in serving limited-English-proficient students; (7) achievement for at-risk students; (8) productive educational practices for at-risk youth; (9) public support for successful instructional practices for at-risk students; (10) accelerating elementary education for disadvantaged students; (11) adolescent pregnancy prevention; and (12) building a network of opportunity for the majority of youth through a public/private careers service. A summary and discussion of the institute concludes this part; part 2 contains the Council's recommendations for action, policy statement, analysis of goals and activities to be pursued by the Chief State School Officers, and a model state statute to provide educational entitlements for at-risk students. (RH)