The Fond du Lac (Wisconsin) Experience Based Career Education (EBCE) Program was adopted and implemented to replace the traditional work experience program for senior year educable mentally handicapped (EMH) students at a public high school. The EBCE program had two major priorities--to create a set of learning experiences which were uniquely appropriate for each individual, and to put into practice the philosophy that the education process does not have to be a set of events separate from the world of work. Among the reasons for utilizing the EBCE program with mentally handicapped students were that there had been a relatively high dropout rate among the secondary EMH students and that EBCE offers a wide variety of career exploration sites throughout the community. Jobs ranged from highly technical and skilled to unskilled occupations. For each job there was detailed information including practical considerations (such as work location, hours) and a complete job description. Students were placed in a job for 1 to 4 weeks with an option to extend placement up to 13 weeks. Learning coordinators made site visits at least once every 2 weeks to monitor student progress. A special education learning coordinator worked with students at the learning center to design academic and career objectives which are detailed on written activity sheets. The Fond du Lac EBCE project was validated as a model project by the Joint Dissemination and Review Panel of the U.S. Office of Education. (SB)