This volume contains the following 19 papers delivered at a national conference on the design of assessment of vocational education: "The National Assessment of Vocational Education: An Introduction" (Gilbert T. Sewall); "Vocational Education--Opportunity and Challenge: Perspectives on the National Assessment of Vocational Education" (Robert E. Taylor); "Access to Quality Vocational Education" (Charles S. Benson); "Access to Quality Vocational Education: A Sex Equity Perspective" (Rebecca S. Douglass); "Evaluating the Special Populations and Equity Provisions of Federal Vocational Education Legislation" (L. Allen Phelps); "Comments on Access to Quality Vocational Education" (Chui Lim Tsang); "Vocational Education Policy and Economic Development: Balancing Short-Term and Long-Term Needs" (Patricia M. Flynn); "Assessing the Impact of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act: Economic Development Issues" (David W. Stevens); "Comments on Vocational Education and Economic Development" (Gloria A. Ruth); "Policy Issues in the Governance of Vocational Education" (John E. S. Lawrence); "Coordination of Vocational Education and Manpower Training Programs" (Paul E. Peterson and Barry G. Rabe); "Comments on State and Local Governance and Coordination" (Robert P. Sorensen); "Academic Education and Occupational Training" (John H. Bishop); "Determinants of Excellence in Vocational Education" (Stuart A. Rosenfeld); "Comments on Academic Skills and Occupational Training" (Ellen Summerfield); "Analyzing the Implementation of Federal Vocational Education Policy: The Perkins Act of 1984" (Richard F. Elmore); "The Federal Role in Vocational Education" (E. Gareth Hoachlander); "Comments on the Federal Role in Vocational Education and the Implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Act: A Discussion" (Marion B. W. Holmes); and "Comments on the Federal Role in Vocational Education and Implementation of the Perkins Act" (Charles W. Radcliffe). Short biographies of participants complete the document. (KC)