The Nebraska state career education plan was developed to assist individuals in developing essential educational and career skills for responsible functioning. The plan, linking the school and work world, extends chronologically: elementary level--career awareness, middle/junior high school level--career exploration, and senior high school level--career preparation and planning. Six guides were developed for program implementation: overview, administration, professional staff development, and elementary, middle/junior high, and senior high schools. Statewide student and teacher surveys found that student needs relate to self, education, and jobs and teacher needs relate to administrative leadership, community support, and evaluation activities. The needs assessments, although somewhat lacking in internal validity, provided valuable program planning information. Nine short/long range goals were identified (for example, the State Department of Education will select twelve school districts for a career activities pilot study.) Implementation policies and strategies were formulated. Strategies include plans for curriculum revision, career guidance, student goals, special needs, business and industry, inservice training, and colleges and universities. Dissemination efforts were developed. (Appendixes contain advisory council and task force activities, needs assessment instruments, program inventory, philosophic inventory scale, proposed state plan, regional planning committees' evaluation, and dissemination materials.) (CSS)