A Missouri study was conducted to investigate the reading abilities of the average vocational technical student to determine if this reading ability was commensurate with the material the student was assigned to read, and to compare the effectiveness of the reading ability to success in completing a vocational course of study. In order to secure the data from the area vocational schools of this study, the Nelson-Denny Reading Tests were given, textbooks used in the classes were measured for readability with the Dale-Chall and Fry formulas, the individual instructors were interviewed regarding methods of teaching poor readers, and final grades students made in the courses were obtained. Major conclusions include the following: (1) most students enrolled in vocational technical courses are unable to read to their level of grade attainment; (2) the textbooks students are assigned to read are written on a readability level of from one to seven grades above their reading ability; and (3) teachers are required by necessity to give most instruction on a one-to-one basis with numerous visual aids and demonstrations. Two of the recommendations made include the following: a reading class or reading type of assignment should be provided at every grade level of the school to improve students' reading skills, and publishers should provide more text material written on the reading level of the students that will be reading the books. (Author/JH)