This theme issue focuses on motivating young people to learn by providing leadership opportunities in school. "Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program: Assessing Progress" (Josie Danini Supik) examines the program's success. This program, which trains high-risk middle and high school students as tutors of younger children, has dramatically lowered dropout rates and discipline problems among participants while increasing their achievement and self-esteem. "Youth Leadership: Great Works in Progress" (Aurelio M. Montemayor, Josie Danini Supik) proposes a new leadership training program to create local teams of students who would participate in community service learning projects and in school decision making and reform efforts. "How Do I Value You? Let Me Count the Ways" (Aurelio M. Montemayor) describes traditional and nontraditional ways of valuing students and offers examples of student-centered activities that enhance student self-worth and provide incentives for staying in school. "Valued Youths: Six Years Later" (Conchi Salas) profiles two student success stories from the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program. This issue also contains two articles unrelated to the theme. "IDRA's Latest Attrition Analyses Show Worsening Dropout Problem" (Roy Johnson) reports that the percentage of students lost from Texas public high school enrollment between their 9th-grade and 12-grade years was 40 percent for the period ending 1994-95, compared to 33 percent for the period 1985-86. This finding contradicts the Texas Education Agency's recent report of steadily declining dropout rates. Tables detail high school completion and dropout rates for the states; attrition rates for Blacks, Whites, and Hispanics in Texas counties; and Texas attrition and enrollment data for racial/ethnic groups. "Silent Partners in Education" (Conchi Salas) discusses the importance of schools recognizing and valuing the educational contributions of parents and families. Nine additional readings on youth leadership are listed. (SV)