New curriculum materials are necessary to improve vocational education. Even when new materials are developed, however, they often fail to improve programs, either because teachers are not taught how to manage and use the new instructional materials, or because the environment does not allow change. The role of administrators is to encourage instructors to follow through with the curriculum and to provide instructors with adequate time and resources to implement it. Instructional materials for vocational programs should meet three basic requirements to satisfy user needs: the materials must be flexible, they must be timely, and they must be affordable. Flexibility is needed because of the recent emphasis on individualizing instruction, and because of the rapid advances being made in technology. Curricula with components that can be easily replaced would provide flexibility. Timeliness means that curriculum materials must reflect the latest technologies, they must not spend so much time in development that they are already obsolete when they are implemented, and they must reflect the latest in educational advancement. Finally, materials must be made affordable in such ways as mass production and elimination of duplication and designed so that customers have to buy only the parts they need, and elimination of duplication. More important than ever is the need for the various agencies involved in curriculum materials development to join forces to make the most economical and effective use of resources. These methods will help to stretch the curriculum dollar. (KC)