This volume is one of the products of the "knowledge development" effort implemented under the mandate of the Youth Employment and Demonstration Projects Act (YEDPA) of 1977. Under YEDPA's discretionary authority there have been a number of efforts to better measure the impact of services that facilitate the transition of youth from school to work. The research report provides the analytical foundation for these demonstrations, reviewing and synthesizing from a policy perspective the literature on school-to-work transition activities. The document focuses on six areas: (1) career information, guidance, and job-seeking skills; (2) academic credit for work experience; (3) youth participation; (4) private sector involvment; (5) special efforts for high risk youth; and (6) school-to-work transition efforts for the handicapped. The volume contains literature reviews and syntheses around key policy issues for each of these focus areas. Additionally, it includes the results of special hearings conducted by Youthwork (a nonprofit intermediary jointly funded by the Departments of Labor and Education) on the needs of high risk youth and the handicapped. Annotated bibliographies, as well as many abstracts, are included in the volume. (KC)