During the debate concerning the reauthorization of vocational education, a number of factors must be considered pertaining to the issue of federal-state relationships regarding vocational education and national purposes for vocational education. While the federal government uses education as a vehicle for addressing a number of social concerns, education is primarily a state responsibility. However, before the states can meet their educational responsibilities, a set of national purposes for vocational education must be established. Such a set of purposes must delineate federal and state responsibilities and suggest a number of strategies so that the following areas can be addressed: increasing national productivity, dealing with unemployment, supporting national defense, providing equitable access to training and jobs, providing remediation necessary for employment, and alleviating poverty. There are a number of ways in which vocational education can be improved through the reauthorization process, including (1) establishing incentives to encourage states to enact their own vocational education legislation; (2) rewarding those states developing innovative ways to accomplish national purposes; (3) allowing for differentiated funding of states, based on differing needs; and (4) concentrating on the degree to which states meet agreed upon goals rather than on procedures used to reach goals. (MN)