This draft statement outlines the issues to be discussed at a series of invitational conferences to consider policies and proposals regarding youth education and employment in New York State. It consists of three sections. In section 1 a general description of the problem of youth unemployment is provided. Section 2 examines a framework for action in three basic areas of state policy: creation of more jobs available to youth; acquisition of skills needed to find and hold a job; and provision of support services needed by youth to accomplish their transition to adulthood. Included among the specific program alternatives, improvements, and innovations set forth in section 3 are proposals pertaining to the following topics: (1) job creation (programs to provide business skills, youth enterprises, internships, cooperative education programs, youth service corps); (2) employability skills (basic skill training for in- and out-of-school youth, dropout prevention programs, career education, cultural education); (3) support and transition services (multi-service centers, in-school employment programs, coordinated career and education counseling, summer vocational exploration programs, expanded child care services, referral services); and (4) coordination of youth education and employment programs (an interagency youth education and employment task force, regional advisory councils). (MN)