This article explores the dropout problem at national, regional, and local levels. The demographics of dropouts are examined with particular emphasis on cultural variables and the plight of minorities. The need for community-based education is explored, and a model that has proved successful is outlined for dropout prevention, intervention, and recovery. Early-intervention efforts that have been successful are exemplified by some programs of the Provisional Accelerated Learning (PAL) Center in San Bernardino (California). At the Center, students from California State University, San Bernardino, take classroom theory and put it into practice in a community-based setting. Successful programs include: an alternative street academy for educational and computer literacy training; (2) Project Early Outreach for Saturday tutoring for elementary school students; (3) Operation RETAIN for youth from 14 to 21 years; (4) Teens for Responsible Behavior, a pregnancy-prevention and parenting-responsibility program; (5) Project Earn and Learn, a work-experience program; (6) RETAIN II, a business-skills development program for eligible 16 to 45 year old participants; (7) Operation Reclaim; an adult-education program; (8) Operation Read/Project Citizen, an adult-literacy program (9) a substance-abuse and gang-intervention program; (10) Self-Destruct, and anti-gang and anti-drug video and Mighty Medic, the anti-drug comic book featuring a black superhero and (11) pre-employment training. The PAL Center illustrates the difference collaborative efforts can make in fighting the dropout problem. (Contains 5 references.) (Author/SLD)