More research is needed on the effect of summer vocational exploratory programs for disadvantaged youth. Because of the limited number of high schools which offer a wide range of vocational courses, only one out of every five high school students has the opportunity to pursue viable technical or occupationally specific goals. However, research finds that vocational education is effective in stemming the dropout rate and in providing a training ground for basic entry-level jobs. The existing literature on summer vocational exploratory programs for disadvantaged youth confirms the positive effects of participation in such programs. Examples of summer exploratory programs that have had positive results include the following: a cooperative program developed by the Career Development Center and the Regional Vocational Technical School in Blackstone Valley, Massachusetts; Summer Youth Employment Program (STEP) pilot projects that were implemented in Boston, Baltimore, and Pinellas County in Florida; a prevocational exploratory program for educationally disadvantaged ninth graders that was offered in the Minneapolis Public Schools; and a sex-fair, experience-based career education program that was offered to junior and senior high school students in Little Rock, Arkansas. Such programs have resulted in improvement in work habits and attitudes, decision-making skills, and job placement rates for students as well as in greater awareness of post-high school educational opportunities and gains in choices of nonstereotyped occupations. (MN)