Summer Training and Education Program (STEP). Report on the Pilot Experience.

Each year, large numbers of disadvantaged youth enter the labor force without adequate preparation: Their basic academic and job skills are unequal to the tasks that they will soon face as young adults. To address this dilemma, P/PVs launched the Summer Training and Education Program (STEP) during the summer of 1984; STEP sought to improve school retention rates and, ultimately, labor market outcomes for disadvantaged youth ages 14 and 15. STEP aspired to address two serious obstacles to high school graduationnegative academic experiences and adolescent parenthoodby providing participants with both academic remediation and instruction in life planning skills, in addition to the work experience traditionally available to them in summer jobs programs, during two consecutive and intensive summer programs. This report shares preliminary findings, which suggest that although a few program elements should be strengthened, the program offers promising results as STEP participants significantly increased their basic skills and understanding of sexual responsibility.