A study examined the educational experiences of all 759 youth released from Wisconsin's two juvenile correctional institutions during 1979. School records, including transcripts from schools attended before and after release, were reviewed for each youth. Parole officers were interviewed whenever school records were in question. Only 3 percent of the youths completed a traditional high school program and 40 percent earned a General Educational Development (GED) credential, most while incarcerated. Reading and mathematics test scores indicated a wide range of reading and mathematics abilities, with many youth requiring remedial help. Of the total, 145 youth (19 percent) were later incarcerated as adults; 60 percent did not complete high school or earn a GED prior to their incarceration as adults. The study recommended development of competency-based education at both institutions with a focus on vocational education, GED completion, and attainment of life skills competencies rather than Carnegie unit credits. (YLB)