The state and local vocational education advisory councils, created by the Vocational Education Amendments of 1968, provide citizen input into the development and planning of vocational education programs. The whole structure of American industry is undergoing enormous change. We look to vocational education to help prepare this nation for expanded economic growth and to meet the increased needs for human resources. The six pillars of American education to consider when structuring the future system of vocational education are career education, vocational education, postsecondary education, adult education, special education for the handicapped and disadvantaged, and special education for the gifted. Now how do we get all this put together? By law we have created the state advisory councils. They have a full role to play in developing a state plan; evaluating vocational programs, services, and activities; identifying state vocational education employment and training needs; and providing technical assistance to local advisory councils. The 1976 Amendments recognized the importance of research in vocational education and pull together the state and local advisory councils, state education board, manpower people, research establishment, and others to build an educational system that will meet the needs of the twenty-first century. (The author's answers to eight questions asked by the audience of vocational education research and development staff are attached.) (EM)