School staff can use information on risk factors to identify student needs and assess the ability of the school to address these needs. It is also important to identify protective factors that promote successful development or buffer risk factors that might otherwise compromise development. Three key factors that have been identified as fostering the development of resiliency: (1) caring and support; (2) high expectations; and (3) opportunities for meaningful participation. Research on risk and protective factors is invaluable to schools in this era of educational reform as they try to provide arenas in which children can and want to learn. There is a definite link between risk and protective factors and Goal 5 of Blueprint 2000, the Florida state parallel to Education 2000. This goal states that communities must provide an environment that is drug-free and protects students' health, safety, and civil rights. Gauging risk and protective factors and working to diminish risk and promote protection are discussed. Schools cannot succeed working alone, since it is clear that both risk and protective factors operate outside the school as well as within it. Collaboration across agencies and within communities is an essential strategy to improve service delivery and allow for best use of resources. The discussion of risk and protective factors contains the following sections: (1) "Identification of Risk and Protective Factors"; (2) "Link between Risk and Protective Factors and School Performance"; (3) "Link between Risk and Protective Factors and Blueprint 2000 Goal 5"; (4) "How To Gauge the Presence of Risk and Protective Factors"; (5) "Strategies That Help Diminish Risk Factors and/or Promote Protective Factors"; (6) "Collaboration To Enhance Resiliency"; (7) "Bibliography" (50 sources); (8) "Resources" (14 individuals and programs); and (9) "Appendix" (the Florida Performance Measurement System and a sample School Climate Profile from that system). (SLD)