Nationally, over 30 percent of students do not complete high school in a timely way. In some inner-city neighborhoods, the odds of graduating are 50-50. In response to this crisis, the Youth Transition Funders Group launched the Strategic Assessment Initiative to support struggling students and out-of-school youth. This national effort enables communities to build systemic strategies and cross-sector partnerships that reduce high school dropout rates and reconnect students not on track for graduation with educational opportunities. JFF will produce a final report in 2006 that looks at lessons learned and documents ongoing barriers at the conclusion of the first phase of the Youth Transition Funders Group investment. The report will include recommendations and tools for improving options for struggling students and out-of-school youth. This interim report was prepared in June 2005.