A 3-year national assessment of vocational education (VE) examined various issues related to improvement of VE programs, their academic and employment outcomes, participation of special population students in VE, and Perkins funding and administration. The assessment established that most secondary VE is still very traditional and that Perkins Act-mandated reforms have yet to take hold. In many areas, efforts to integrate curricula and develop tech prep programs were proceeding slowly. Vocational enrollments were continuing to decline, and more disadvantaged and disabled students and fewer high-achieving students were taking VE courses. Compared to secondary-level VE, postsecondary-level VE was found to be stronger, more structured, associated with better economic outcomes for students, and experiencing increasing enrollments of a broader cross-section of students. Among those issues/problems identified as requiring further attention were the following: preparation of postsecondary-level VE faculty, development of tech prep programs, development of performance standards and measures, integration of academic education and VE, school-to-work transition, access for special populations, supply of teachers, and training for "all aspects of industry." (This document contains an executive summary and 15 reports. Many reports contain substantial numbers of references and appended tables/figures. The bibliography lists 154 references.) (MN)