The SAE is a required component of a total agricultural education program and intended for every student. Through their involvement in the SAE program, students are able to consider multiple careers and occupations, learn expected workplace behavior, develop specific skills within an industry, and are given opportunities to apply academic and occupational skills in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment. Through these strategies, students learn how to apply what they are learning in the classroom as they prepare to transition into the world of college and career opportunities.

To further define the types of SAE programs available to and appropriate for students of school-based agricultural education, refer to the following examples:

Ownership/Entrepreneurship

The student plans, implements, operates and assumes financial risks in a productive or service activity or agriculture, food or natural resources-related business.

Placement/Internship

Placement/Internship programs involve the placement of students in agriculture, food or natural resources-related businesses, on farms and ranches, in school laboratories, at community facilities, or in a verified non-profit organization to provide a "learning by doing" environment. These experiences may be paid or non-paid.

Research

As agriculture becomes more scientific, there is a need to conduct research to meet the needs of a growing world. There are three major kinds of research SAE programs: experimental, analytical and invention.

Exploratory

This type of SAE is appropriate for all agriculture students. This SAE activity is designed primarily to help students become literate in agriculture and/or become aware of possible careers in the AFNR career cluster and results in the development of a plan to begin an SAE.

School-Based Enterprise

This enterprise is a student-managed, entrepreneurial operation in a school setting that provides goods or services that meet the needs of an identified market.

Service-Learning

Service-learning is a student-managed service activity where students are involved in the development of a needs assessment, planning the goals, objectives and budget, implementation of the activity, promotion, and evaluation/reflection of a chosen project. It may be for a school, a community organization, religious institution or non-profit organization. The student(s) are responsible for raising necessary funds for the project (if funds are needed). A project must be a stand-alone project and not part of an ongoing chapter project, or community fundraiser