The objectives in developing the interstate research effort were to cooperatively design and undertake a series of studies to find solutions to major vocational-technical education problems confronting a regional area of New York and Connecticut and to develop a framework for a regional approach to research effort. Six studies, completed under interstate contract, explored the areas of off-farm agricultural, multi-occupational, and business and technology programs, teacher competency examinations, predictive testing for student success in the trade programs and home economics occupational program evaluation. The completed studies approved by the U. S. Office of Education were distributed. Some of the findings relevant to developing a framework for a regional approach to research were--(1) there was considerable articulation among research groups as a result of the six projects; (2) there is an increased awareness on the part of researchers and institutions that the state education department can act significantly in coordinating priority research projects within a wide geographic area; (3) all studies were conducted by consultants employed as chief investigators and retained through the full period of the research and development program; (4) the successful completion of the studies has proved the feasibility of the projects being funded and operated across state lines; (5) costs were kept at a low level because the programs were fitted into an existing administrative structure; and, (6) the inclusion of population samples from two or more states made the findings more generalizable and applicable. (MM)