A study was conducted to determine the status of local secondary vocational education advisory councils in Iowa. Phase 1 of the study surveyed 709 secondary vocational education programs to identify programs utilizing local advisory councils, composition of these councils, and names of leading council members. Phase 2 collected data from 218 teachers and 160 council members relating to council operation procedures, council effectiveness, and satisfaction with the council. Of the 709 teachers responding to the survey, 431 indicated their program utilized a local advisory council. The distribution of the respondents by areas was 231 from agriculture, 47 from distributive education, 3 from health, 271 from home economics, 51 from office, 97 from trades and industry, and 9 from multioccupational programs. A representative council met once or twice during the year and contained eight members. The typical council included one professional educator, four employers, and various other types of members based on program area. The second phase of the study revealed a need for local advisory councils to strengthen their operational activities. On a statewide basis there seems to be a need for more programs to provide a formalized orientation for new council members. (LRA)