*Work Experience Programs IDENTIFIERS *Finland

This paper discusses the outcomes of two intervention models designed to prevent students with disabilities from dropping out of school in Finland. The first model, the "Creating Own Career " model, is based on the main ideas of the City as School projects. The model is designed to emphasize young peoples ' own motivation, self-development, and responsibility for his/her own life. Much of the learning happens outside of school during work-based learning. The second model is a voluntary extra year of compulsory schooling. Interviews with 97 students who completed an extra year of compulsory schooling and 45 students who participated in the Creating Own Career model indicate that the bridge model, the extra year of comprehensive school, seems to be very effective in encouraging students to pursue postsecondary education. The majority of students were still involved in further education almost one year after the project and the unemployment rate did not differ from the average at this age group. The Creating Own Career model did not seem to be as effective in terms of motivating students to pursue further education, however, it did encourage pupils to complete their compulsory studies. (Contains 22 references.) (CR) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document