THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION ACT OF 1963 WAS ENACTED BY CONGRESS TO OFFER NEW AND EXPANDED VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO BRING JOB TRAINING INTO HARMONY WITH THE INDUSTRIAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL REALITIES OF TODAY AND THE NEEDS FOR TOMORROW. THE ACT IS COMPREHENSIVE. IT IS AVAILABLE TO AND CONCERNED ABOUT UNEMPLOYED AND EMPLOYED WORKERS OF ALL AGES AT ALL LEVELS FOR ALL FIELDS IN BOTH RURAL AND URBAN AREAS. THE ACT REQUIRES EACH STATE AND COMMUNITY TO PLAN FLEXIBLE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS WHICH ARE COMPATIBLE WITH CHANGES OCCURRING IN THE ECONOMY AND THE WORLD OF WORK. IT CANNOT BECOME OBSOLETE--THE MACHINERY FOR KEEPING IT FLEXIBLE AND UP TO DATE IS BUILT INTO IT. IT IS CONCERNED WITH QUALITY EDUCATION. BY THE AMENDMENTS IT MAKES IN THE EARLIER ACTS, IT COORDINATES THE NEW AND OLD INTO PARTS OF A WHOLE. STATE RIGHTS TO CONTROL THEIR OWN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS ARE RESPECTED. THE ACT GIVES AUTHORITY FOR APPROPRIATIONS FOR (1) A PERMANENT PROGRAM COVERING VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FOR PERSONS IN FOUR CATEGORIES, CONSTRUCTION OF AREA FACILITIES, ANCILLARY SERVICES AND FACILITIES, AND RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND (2) TWO 4-YEAR PROGRAMS INCLUDING WORK-STUDY PROGRAMS AND RESIDENTIAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS. OTHER SUBJECTS DISCUSSED ARE PAYMENTS TO THE STATES, STATE PLANS, LABOR STANDARDS, NATIONAL ADVISORY BODIES, AND ACTS OF CONGRESS AFFECTING VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE AS FS5.280--80034 FROM SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS, U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20402. (WB)