SERVE offers a series of publications entitled "Hot Topics," research-based documents which focus on relevant issues of the day that are important in the region. This document, the first in a series of publications, is a practical guidebook to designing and developing youth apprenticeship programs to prepare noncollege-bound high school students for work. Section 1 is an overview of youth apprenticeship that includes information on the history of apprenticeship and explains why youth apprenticeship is needed in the United States. Listed in section 2 are the following: the characteristic components and benefits of youth apprenticeships; youth apprenticeship program coordinator responsibilities; and typical components of tech prep, cooperative education, internship, school-based enterprise, vocational technology high school/center, and career academy programs. The following key components in school-to-work transition programs are discussed in section 3: commitment, collaboration, business involvement, training and staff development, applied teaching, real-world experience, flexible scheduling, funding and resources, and continuity. Examined in section 4 are the following critical issues in youth apprenticeship programming: vision and concept, attitudes, recognition/credentials/standards, program evaluation, marketing, and public choices and public agents. Sections 5-7 contain the following: names/addresses of 103 state and national resource organizations; list of 56 suggested periodicals, journals, newsletters, and documents on models; endnotes, and 71-item bibliography. Included throughout the guidebook are profiles of exemplary youth apprenticeship programs and descriptions of successful program practices. (MN)