A study examined the need to include business-education partnerships in the integration of academic and vocational learning programs. First, literature dealing with the following topics was reviewed: the new economy, education and the economy, academic and vocational integration, the need for partnerships, and the history of business-education partnerships. The second part of the study focused on the operation and outcomes of the Los Angeles Area Business/Education Partnership Cooperative, which consists of seven school districts, three community colleges, four universities, more than 300 businesses, and more than 40 public and nonprofit community service agencies. The contribution of each of the following partnership components to the cooperative's success was examined: early identification and accessible ongoing monitoring and support services; encouragement of parental involvement; use of an adaptive curriculum and a combination of instructional approaches; cooperation with business and industry; use of a decentralized, multisite format; an open-entry enrollment policy; cooperative liaisons with businesses, colleges, universities, and high schools; provision of academic and vocational instruction tied to students' personal career goals and job training; and liaison with community service agencies. (Contains a 180-item bibliography on integrating academic and vocational learning.) (MN)