This resource guide is designed to provide the reader with information about work experience programs in Rhode Island and other states. The first section consists of a prototypic model (which was developed in cooperation with educators and other personnel concerned with work experience programs) for making work experience-based vocational education programs more responsive and accessible to secondary school students including the handicapped, disadvantaged, and minority populations. Designed to serve as a planning template for the future, the model consists of five program goals, their narrower objectives, and functions to be performed in meeting each objective. A matrix designed to provide the reader with a cross reference between the model's objectives and functions and their practical application as found in the abstracts of various existing work experience programs makes up the second section of the guide. It is intended for use on developing or redeveloping programs to meet particular objectives and functions of the prototypic model. The third section consists of abstracts of 56 existing Rhode Island work experience programs and 81 programs in operation in other states. Each includes sponsoring agency, program title, program director, grade level or population served, and a brief program description. (HD)