In 1998 the Combat Poverty Agency and the Employment Youthstart National Support Structure came together to produce case studies on initiatives which demonstrate good practice in developing integrated responses to educational disadvantage. Through their respective roles and the work that they are involved in, both agencies are committed to developing innovative responses to the issue of educational disadvantage. This includes influencing educational policy and practice to respond effectively to the needs of those who experience educational disadvantage and drawing on the experience and lessons from existing and former interventions.

Four of the case studies selected are based on initiatives which were funded under the first round of the Employment Youthstart Initiative. All of the case studies seek to illustrate good practice issues as well as to draw out policy lessons. They reflect key themes and issues which have emerged in both the experience of the Youthstart Initiative projects and in the work of the Combat Poverty Agency, particularly through its Demonstration Programme on Educational Disadvantage. These themes include transitions (eg. from primary to secondary school or from junior to senior cycle); integrated actions/models; pathways/progression routes; home/school/community linkages; curricular reform and provision for groups of young people with particular needs. In addition, the case studies identify issues which will be familiar to others involved in promoting and supporting integration as well as highlighting the factors which influence it.