To determine the impact of the middle/junior high level Practical Arts Program from the Kentucky State Department of Education, an experimental/control group design was used in testing students at two junior high schools. The Career Maturity Inventory (CMI) and the School Sentiment Index (SSI) were administered, pre- and posttest, to measure career maturity and attitudes toward school. The experimental program provided opportunity to explore a diversity of career roles in classes developed around and consistant with the occupational cluster concept. An evaluation system for career education programs was produced, consisting of a series of survey instruments to obtain data from teachers, students, administrators, parents, and businesses. Recommendations based on the findings include the following: (1) An advisory committee of parents and businessmen should be organized to provide input into program development, (2) inservice education should be provided at least once a year for teachers and administrators involved in a career exploration program, (3) schedule changes should be made to provide ninth grade students more opportunity to explore careers, (4) a fulltime career exploration coordinator should be placed in the schools to facilitate teachers and students in the career exploration program, (5) additional materials and resources are needed from the State level, and (6) teachers need to involve parents and businesses in their career activities and provide additional out-of-classroom activities for students. Research design, data analysis, and findings are included. Appendixes include instruments used in the study. (TA)