A mailout questionnaire was used in a study which focused on three areas of inquiry: (1) Needs assessment for job placement programs in public schools as viewed by superintendents of school districts and vocational administrators of occupational programs, (2) assessment of the perceived and established benefits of a placement program from the viewpoint of superintendents, vocational administrators, and placement program personnel, and (3) criteria standardizations of placement programs to provide administrators at the State and local levels of education data for making management decisions. Subjects were the 1,156 independent school district superintendents in Texas, the 236 vocational administrators of occupational programs in those districts, and the placement service program coordinators in the 32 schools operating placement programs. Response from each group was over 70%. Based on the study, several criteria appear to be factors in determining the priority on which applicants for employability skill development and job placement services should be evaluated. These include likelihood of administrative support, availability of facilities, high dropout ratio, urban and larger school districts, availability of vocational teaching units, schools demonstrating other areas of need such as low placement, commitment of local school districts to provide partial funding, and districts willing to abide by State guidelines to insure a uniform statewide effort. It is concluded that there are considerable perceived needs for and favorable attitudes toward the benefits of a placement program. Appendixes contain the research methodology, sample description, sample recovery, survey instruments, and followup contact letter. (TA)