This report focuses on the reality that the dropout situation is unlikely to improve as long as policy and practice fail to ensure students have a comprehensive system of student and learning supports. To highlight the intervention problem, the emphasis is on first comparing federal practice guidance recommendations for addressing the dropout problem with data about what schools are doing; then, we stress the need to embed dropout prevention into development of a unified and comprehensive component for addressing barriers to learning and teaching and re-engaging disconnected students at every school. An appendix presents: "Motivation is a Primary Concern in Addressing All Students." A list of cited references and some related reading is provided along with some relevant references for broadening staff understanding of motivation. (Contains 1 table.)