An overview of increasing violence as a concern for schools includes an outline of what is required to implement violence prevention and conflict resolution programs in schools. Requirements are to admit that destructive conflicts are out of control, implement a violence prevention program, become a conflict positive organization, and implement a conflict resolution program. A chapter on violence prevention profiles elements of program to prevent violence and develop positive behavior. It advises that successful programs should have elements that replace violent behavior with nonviolent or positive behavior. This process requires that students change habits, attitudes, values, and perspectives. This involves meeting students' nurturing needs, the development of a cooperative environment, the existence of positive and lasting relationships, the positive use of out-of-school time, school partnerships with parents and the community, and long-term conflict resolution/peer mediation training. Other chapters address the following topics: schools as conflict-positive organizations, approaches to conflict resolution, the creation of a cooperative context, the two basic concerns in a conflict, teaching students to negotiate, mediating conflict among students, arbitration, the implementation of conflict resolution/peer mediation training, and the use of academic controversy to enhance learning. Chapter figures and 123 references