An examination of Western Australian programs developed to meet the needs of students considered 'at risk' of failing to complete their secondary education was undertaken. In the initial phase interviews were conducted with senior teachers or education officers from eight of 10 alternative secondary school programs funded by the Department for Community Development and the Ministry of Education targeting ' at risk' students. Information about the objectives, strategies and outcomes for each program was gathered as well as criteria for referral. Comparisons were made with the findings of the 1991 Western Australian Parliamentary Inquiry into Youth Affairs. It appeared that the initiators of the programs had identified objectives and strategies that reflected the concerns raised and the problem areas identified by the 1991 inquiry. There was, however, an emphasis on improving academic achievement, increasing attendance and providing a more student centred curriculum rather than responding to the problem areas of delinquency, disruptive behaviour, poor social skills and the obstacles created by poverty. Overall there was little in the way of outcome data available across the eight programs making it difficult to determine actual success. In the second phase of this research one of the alternative programs was studied in more detail. Behavioural objectives set by the staff for each student referred to the program were monitored and progress made was rated both by the staff and self rated by the students. It was found that by the end of the school year three of the six participating students were described as having fully achieved the stated outcomes, one partially achieved and the remaining two were effectively unsuccessful. The findings suggest that alternative education programs rely heavily on staff/student relationships and the flexible approach taken by staff to student management and the curriculum. In addition, focusing on identified behavioural problem areas and developing strategies to respond to these unacceptable behaviours was found to be a positive approach.