Intended as an aid to those involved in State level planning for occupational education, this report (1) identifies the different legal, organizational, and financial constraints which directly affect the process and product of planning for occupational education; (2) determines the effect which different mixes of State and local responsibilities for planning have on the process and product of planning for occupational education; and (3) identifies specific instances (i.e., State and local planning agencies, policies, etc.) where alternative planning environments exist and where alternative policy models have been implemented. (The report is based on a questionnaire/telephone interview investigation of how planning for occupational education is conducted at the State and local levels in a sample of 14 States whose policies and procedures provided examples of all significant alternatives with regard to funding policies, organizational relationships, and legislation.) Chapter 1 is a discussion of the problems of planning from the standpoint of the need for the State and local agencies to share planning responsibilities. Chapter 2 demonstrates the interrelatedness which exists between planning activities and the environment in which they take place, focusing on the many "givens" in educational systems which significantly affect the kinds of planning which can be done and pointing out that changes in these "givens" may have to be accomplished before the intended planning practices may be implemented. Chapters 3 through 7 present in-depth discussion of the effect which alternative policies and environmental conditions have on the process of planning and delivering occupational education. (HD)