This first part of the congressional hearings held in Washington, D.C., in February 1981, to reauthorize the Vocational Education Act of 1963 contains 16 pieces of testimony about vocational education programs in different institutional settings. Individuals giving testimony include representatives of the following institutions: Des Moines Community College in Iowa; Helena Vocational Technical Center in Helena, Montana; The New York State Department of Education; Great Oaks Area Vocational Technical School in Cincinnati, Ohio; Harrisburg-Steelton-Highspire Area Vocational Technical School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Lockport Township High School in Wausau, Wisconsin; Utah Technical College of Provo, Utah; Eastern Kentucky University; and Northern Burlington County Regional Senior High School of Columbus, New Jersey. Topics covered in the testimony include the scope, design, problems, needs, and outcomes of given programs. Services provided to adults, females, minority groups, and handicapped students are also described. (Part 2 of these hearings, which contains testimony on urban and rural vocational education, is available separately through ERIC--see note.) (MN)