This report addresses two elements of an eight-part study of South Carolina's vocational education system. The report provides an overview of major national and state issues regarding vocational education in grades 9-12 and the structure and operation of the system. Statewide information about enrollment patterns and a profile of students who enroll in vocational education are provided. Four major issues are identified in the report: (1) various ideas of the purposes of vocational education; (2) accountability in vocational education; (3) problems in the day-to-day delivery of vocational education; and (4) identifying the true "vocational" students for purposes of accountability. The national overview of vocational education showed that (1) vocational education programs are varied; (2) nearly 3 million students are enrolled in vocational education programs related to an occupation, while about 4 million are enrolled in nonoccupational vocational programs; and (3) only about 10 percent of vocational education funding comes from the federal government. Information on enrollment patterns and profiles of students in vocational courses in South Carolina revealed that (1) two-thirds of students take at least one vocational course at their high schools; (2) enrollments tend to follow traditional gender lines; and (3) more whites than blacks enroll in business education, the reverse of the ratio in trade/industry courses. Based on the study, recommendations were made to clarify programs goals, to get information to students, and to increase efforts to expose students to nontraditional occupations. (KC)