What is currently called the STW movement springs from numerous sources in response to various perceived problems. Although the federal School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994 gave these diffuse efforts their current name and has stimulated new activity, many initiatives started before 1994. Some of these initiatives were purely local, arising from conditions and inspirations in particular communities. Others began in response to state legislation, or federal laws other than STWOA. Grants from private foundations also have played a key role. This part of the report explains the major sources of funding and energy for the STW movement coming from recent federal law, reviews the development of STW policy in six states as examples, and describes some of the important network-building efforts. As we will see, the policies and strategies of legislators and funders have had various goals. The next part of the report will then describe how these various goals and purposes are working themselves out in practice.