This report of the first-year operations of project REAL (Relevant Experiences for Alternative Learning), an experience based career education (EBCE) project based on the EBCE model developed by Northwest Regional Educational Laboratories, is presented in four parts. (The three broad characteristics of Project REAL follow: student-centered and provided personalized learning experiences to participating students; focus of student learning activities was in the community; and instructional experiences of an academic nature were integrated with career development experiences.) Section 1 includes an introduction to the project goals and explains the scope of the evaluation. Section 2, pertaining to student outcomes, covers information on the students' performance level in the basic skill areas, their job knowledge, their knowledge of career decision making, and their ability to complete seven "survival skills" competencies. Section 3, pertaining to student process objectives, reports information on student placement in community exploratory and project learning activities, high school credits earned, student assessment, and implementation of sex-fair guidance, placement, counseling and follow-up services. Section 4 discusses implementation of the project management plan, parental approval, insurance protection, staff development, employment of needed personnal, and establishment of an advisory board. (BM)