A study gathered information from the early 8 percent set-aside experience of 12 states during the first official period of Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) activity. The states were Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and South Carolina. Findings were that the governor lodged responsibility for 8 percent administration with the state's department of education in one-half of the sample. State vocational education subunits or departments controlled most 8 percent funding in 5 of 12 cases, public secondary education in 3 cases, and employment and training interests in 4. Sample states relied on four methods to distribute their 80 percent service monies: Request for Proposals, allocation by needs-based formulas, sole-source contracting, and a mix. Largely at their own discretion, 8 percent agencies used 20 percent funds designated for support of coordination activities primarily for administrative purposes and technical assistance. Four sample states had not targeted a specific population beyond the terms of JTPA, leaving the responsibility for selection of special-needs groups with local areas. Three-fourths of sample states identified youth education services as a major focus of 8 percent programming. Problems were the amount of time and overcoming CETA mindsets. (A final section contains state profiles highlighting 8 percent policy and programming in each survey state.) (YLB)