The DELTA program of the Austin Independent School District (AISD) (Texas) is an open-entry, open-exit competency-based diploma program in 10 high schools that is designed to help recover former dropouts and to prevent students who are at risk from dropping out. Instruction in the program is individualized and self-paced, but goals for the DELTA program are aligned with other AISD academic programs. In 1997-98, the third year of program operation, the DELTA program served 858 male and 766 female students. Nearly half (47%) were Hispanic Americans, and 20% were African Americans. Evaluation of the DELTA program shows that the number of students served by the program continued to increase in the third year. During its 3 years of operation the program has served increasing numbers of seniors, who need fewer credits to graduate, and this has contributed to a decrease in the number of credits earned by program participants. Findings of the evaluation indicate that the DELTA program is successfully meeting the goals of serving the target population and helping recovered and prevented dropouts stay in school and earn high school diplomas. Recommendations are made for program improvement. These include improvement of data collection techniques to evaluate the program's impact more thoroughly. (Contains three figures.) (SLD)