The impact of career academies on student education and employment outcomes is being examined through a comprehensive longitudinal evaluation of the career academy approach in 10 high schools throughout the United States that were selected because they reflect the school districts where career academies are typically located. Most of the school districts represented in the evaluation are large districts which have higher-than-average percentages of black and Hispanic students; and have higher dropout rates, unemployment rates, and low-income families than national averages. Special attention was paid to the role of employers and work-related components, which are considered cornerstones of the career academy experience. The employer partnerships involved in the study of career academies were found to share four core elements: multiple employers with multiple roles; staff time for partnership coordination; career awareness and development activities; and work-based learning activities. The following items were found to differ from site to site: employer partnership management structure; staffing arrangements; and supports for work-based learning. Among seniors, enrollment in a career academy was associated with equal or higher levels of involvement in career awareness and work-based learning activities. (Nineteen tables and figures are included. Appended are a comparison of research groups and response analyses for the Career Academies Evaluation 12th Grade Survey and four supplementary tables. The bibliography contains 24 references. Also listed are 16 publications on Manpower Development Research Corporation projects.) (MN)