This publication provides an overview of the Vocational Education Act (VEA) of 1984 and guidelines for compliance and proposal development. Section I describes why the legislation was enacted and the five titles of which the Act consists. Funding is compared for fiscal years 1984-85 and 1985-86, and funding priorities and eligibility for VEA funding are addressed. Sections II and III, which focus on specific titles of the VEA, offer guidelines for compliance and proposal development regarding the specific titles. Section II first discusses the Vocational Education Opportunities Program (Title IIA). It describes programs for special populations (handicapped disadvantaged individuals, adults in need of training and retraining, single parents, sex equity, and corrections/incarcerated) as well as specific criteria, such as allocation and use of funds and prescriptive requirements. This section then discusses Vocational Education Program Improvement, Innovation, and Expansion (Title IIB). The 10 priority areas designated for funding in FY 1985-86 are considered. The purpose, use of funds, and prescriptive requirements are identified for each priority. Section III discusses Special Programs (Title III), specifically the purpose, allocation and use of funds, and priorities of consumer home economics funding with descriptions. Definitions are appended. (YLB)