PROJECT ACCENT, A COOPERATIVE VENTURE OF SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY COLLEGE AND 10 OF ITS SURROUNDING HIGH SCHOOLS, IS A PROGRAM OF COUNSELING AND INSTRUCTION IN AUTO MECHANICS, APPLIED ELECTRONICS, AND OFFICE OCCUPATIONS TRAINING IN GRADES 11 THROUGH 14. IN THE PAST, THE ATTRITION RATE IN THESE THREE PROGRAMS HAS BEEN DISCOURAGING. OF THE THOUSANDS WHO ENTER SUCH PROGRAMS, THOSE WHO ENTER SECOND-LEVEL COURSES WILL BE COUNTED IN HUNDREDS, AND ONLY A RELATIVELY SMALL FRACTION OF THESE WILL PROGRESS TO HIGHER LEVELS. TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM, A THREE-PART PLAN HAS BEEN PUT INTO EFFECT. (1) COUNSELORS ARE BEING RETRAINED TO INCREASE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL COUNSELING, (2) COURSE OUTLINES FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS ARE BEING REVISED BY A COMMITTEE OF TEACHERS TO DESIGNATE INFORMATION AS "ESSENTIAL", "DESIRABLE", OR "NICE TO KNOW" WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF STATED TASKS, AND (3) AN ATTEMPT IS BEING MADE TO IMPROVE THE IMAGE OF VOCATIONAL COURSES THROUGH SUCH ACTIVITIES AS FIELD TRIPS, CONTESTS, BUDDY-DAY PARTICIPATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLICITY MATERIALS. (AUTHOR/WO)