THE PROGRESS OF THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R AND D) PROGRAM IN VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL EDUCATION DURING THE FIRST 18-MONTH CONTRACT PERIOD IS SUMMARIZED, AND PROJECTIONS ARE MADE REGARDING ITS FUTURE OPERATION. THE R AND D PROGRAM IS ROOTED IN THE CLINICAL APPROACH TO TEACHER EDUCATION AND PROGRAM EXPERIMENTATION. THIS APPROACH UTILIZES THE SCHOOLS AS LABORATORIES FOR CONTROLLED EXPERIMENTATION, AND IT STRESSES LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF DEMONSTRATION SCHOOLS. AMONG THE MAJOR PROJECTS OF THE PROGRAM ARE (1) VOCATIONAL OFFICE BLOCK PROJECT, (2) DISTRIBUTIVE EDUCATION PREPARATORY PROJECT, (3) SHARED TIME PROJECT, (4) RURAL SCHOOLS PROJECT, (5) EVALUATION SYSTEMS IN LOCAL SCHOOLS PROJECT, (6) HOSPITALITY EDUCATION PROJECT, AND (7) VOCATIONAL INTERNSHIP PROJECT. A CONTRACT WITH THE UNITED STATES OFFICE OF EDUCATION PROVIDES FOR CONTINUATION OF ALL MAJOR R AND D PROJECTS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 19 MONTHS (UNTIL JUNE 30, 1968) THE COMPLETION OF SOME AND THE INITIATION OF SEVERAL NEW ONES. THE PROGRAM HAS SPONSORED A NUMBER OF CONFERENCES AND INSTITUTES. A TASK FORCE COMPLETED A STUDY OF NEEDS FOR EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS AND TEACHER EDUCATION IN HEALTH OCCUPATIONS. A 4-WEEK NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR POST-HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS OF MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION HAD 35 PARTICIPANTS FROM 20 STATES. THE INITIAL STAGE OF THE R AND D PROGRAM HAS SHOWN THAT IT IS A VIABLE OPERATION AND THAT IT CAN MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL EDUCATION. (ET)