The number of disadvantaged school leavers facing a shortage of chances to participate in society and work is growing. Austria, Germany, and Switzerland have different regulations regarding length of compulsory schooling. All three regard participation in apprenticeship as a kind of standard, and their governments direct strong efforts to bring in as many disadvantaged youth as possible. With regard to students who achieve weakly in compulsory schooling in Austria, all students at the lower type of secondary school leave after 8 years at age 14. They may change to a 1-year polytechnic program and, at age 15, pass into an apprenticeship program. In Switzerland, an optional year of practical learning is given at grade 10 (age 15). In Germany, part-time vocational schools offer a full-time year of preparation to find placement in the apprenticeship system in grade 11, at age 16. To provide information on available occupational opportunities, Austrian primary school provides textile and technical handicrafts; Switzerland and Germany provide handicrafts activities from grade 7. Germany makes many efforts to lead young people to apprenticeship training. Businesses have a free hand to take in apprentices; the federal government takes balancing measures when placements are in insufficient supply. Switzerland has a pre-apprenticeship, a short variant with less intellectual demands. Austria has a two-year pre-apprenticeship program designed to fulfill requirements of the first year of ordinary apprenticeship programs. (YLB)