This testimony of the President of Public/Private Ventures (PPV) in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) is on the subject of designing effective youth services programs, particularly in light of the PPV's experience with its program, Summer Training and Education Program (STEP). Following a description of the background for this and similar programs, the STEP's format and purpose, to deter early school-leaving, are described. The program's results are presented briefly, and a series of lessons culled from the STEP experience is presented. The first set of lessons include the following: (1) improvements in the reading, mathematics, and life skills of young adolescents can be accomplished in a short time; (2) innovative programs can be replicated with consistent practices and results across large numbers of varying locations; (3) accomplishment require a business-like approach to investments in innovation development; and (4) short-term programs are unlikely to produce long-lasting impacts by themselves. A set of broader lessons is also discussed including the following: (1) the search for quick fixes must be abandoned; (2) long-term results require short-term programs and larger institutional changes; (3) investing in changes requires a business-like approach; and (4) the best roles and responsibilities for Federal, state, local, and private sector actors must be found. (JB)