12673. A STATE POLICY TO PREVENT HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS. This paper presents a proposal for the implementation of a state-level policy for preventing high school dropouts and increasing high school completion rates. The analysis begins with a comprehensive overview of the problem of dropouts - its scope, its major components, its causes, and its impact. Following this is a statement of the priority objectives of the proposed policy. The analysis then draws on the educational literature and the experience of various states in their implementation of dropout prevention programs to present and evaluate three alternative strategies which might plausibly meet the objectives. A recommendation and rationale for the implementation of one alternative (an alternative schools program) is presented. The concluding sections discuss policy implementation and evaluation. 26 pages, 41 footnotes, 22 bibliographic sources.