In a few school districts one finds a link between school and job. In those vocational programs organized with Smith-Hughes money, there may be a close tie between the labor union and a local employer on the one hand and the vocational teacher on the other. In these cases a graduate may enter directly into an apprentice program, saving a year because of his vocational courses in grades 11 and 12. The apprentice program will involve further education on a part-time basis, usually at night, perhaps using some of the same equipment of the high school. These opportunities are to be found in certain cities in such crafts as auto mechanics, carpentry, drafting, electrical work, tool-and-die work, and sheet-metal work.

Formally organized vocational programs supported by federal funds allow high school students to gain experience in a field of work which is likely to lead to a full-time job on graduation. The ``diversified occupations'' program is a part-time trade preparatory program conducted over two school years on a cooperative basis between the school and local industrial and business employers. The ``distributive education'' program operates in a similar way, with arrangements between the school and employers in merchandising fields. In both cases the student attends school half-time and works in a regular job the other half. He receives remuneration for his work. In a few places cooperative programs between schools and employers in clerical work have shown the same possibilities for allowing the student, while still in school, to develop skills which are immediately marketable upon graduation.