Summer Youth Employment Programs (SYEPs) provide disadvantaged youth jobs and employment experiences. These federally funded programs meet a practical need to help adolescents earn money and have positive summer activities. In addition, federal administrators have implemented program requirements designed to give youth relevant training for future employment. One federal requirement for SYEPs is that all youth are to be screened to determine their basic reading and math skills. In addition to a job, local programs are to provide remedial instruction to youth who fail to meet minimum standards for reading and math. In 1994, SYEPs were also mandated to provide "educational enrichment" for at least half of all participating youth. This study was an evaluation of a SYEP in a Northwestern State and its implementation of different models of employment, remediation, and educational enrichment. Each model was operated in conjunction with a job. For youth who qualified for academic remediation, the two programs were a remedial class or on-the-job remedial enrichment. For youth who did not require remediation, the two models were a job alone or a job with educational enrichment. Outcomes evaluated included self-esteem using the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), self-mastery with the Mastery Scale (Pearlin & Schooler, 1978), and intellectual responsibility using the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Scale (Crandall & Crandall, 1965). Job-related reading and math skills were screened at program intake with the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) (1988) and as a post-test for youth receiving remediation. For remedial youth, all significant findings favored youth in enrichment projects rather than in remedial classes. For non-remedial youth, those in a job alone, rather than in a job with enrichment, had the most positive outcomes. The study suggests research to change the motivational patterns of adolescents in local programs is needed before additional program interventions are mandated. Missing data and non-random assignment of youth and staff to program groups were problematic. / Graduation date: 1995

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of the Lincoln National Corporation Business Assisted Summer Employment Program upon the self-concepts and selected job retention factors of junior and senior high school students from low income families in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Specifically, the study was designed to gather and analyze statistical data of participating B.A.S.E. students as compared to nonparticipating students.Literature regarding self-concept, business and education partnerships at both the national and state level was reviewed. Literature study revealed analysis and results of program evaluation, but limited research on program participant self-evaluation. Therefore, this study was undertaken to access the participant through a pre and posttest investigation.The sample of respondents numbered 166, but through attrition due to insufficient availability of data, the study was conducted with 154 students. All 154 students were administered the eighty-item Piers-Harris Self-Concept Children's Scale in May, 1985 and August, 1985. The (1) "yes" and "no" responses were reported, (2) grade, and (3) attendance pre an post data were reported. All data was hand scored by the author, and computed by the Ball State Computing Services Department utilizing multivariate and univariate analysis of variance tests.The responses of the participating and nonparticipating students yielded the following results:1. There was no significant difference between the mean scores of the participating and nonparticipating B.A.S.E. students based on the following variables: behavior, intelligence, anxiety, popularity, attendance, physical attributes, and happiness.2. There was a significant difference between participating and nonparticipating students based on grade point averages.3. There was a significant difference between participating and nonparticipating male students' pre and posttest mean scores based on grade point averages.4. There was a significant difference between participating and nonparticipating female students pre and posttest mean scores based on grade point averages. 5. The Lincoln National Corporation B.A.S.E. Program had benefited participants in improving the grade point average, developed a successful partnership with high schools, and fostered community growth through staff volunteerism.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1999. / Bibliography: leaves 106-109.

This research was a reanalysis of an extant data set on a Youth Employment Demonstration Projects Act (YEDPA) summer program. The ten week, seven site program combined classroom training with a worksite experience and was targeted to drop-outs, potential drop—outs and adjudicated youth. Eligible youth were randomly assigned to participant and control groups and were measured at pre— and postprogram and three and eight month follow-up. The data set included information on 1901 participant and 978 control youth.