The Commission for Occupational Education Excellence was formed by the Steuben-Allegany (New York) Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). The commission included representatives from schools, businesses, parents and students, labor and teacher unions, other public agencies, postsecondary schools, and the BOCES. The commission's mission was to present recommendations to the BOCES board in May 1991 for student outcomes and instructional delivery to ensure excellence and accountability in local occupational education programs. The commission made the following general recommendations: (1) strengthen relationships among all stakeholders to result in meaningful and functioning partnerships and accountability; (2) promote cooperation among all entities to result in excellence of mastery/competency level vocational and academic programs; and (3) implement comprehensive, outcome-based assessments to support the strategic objective that students graduating from high school are prepared for college and/or employment. Specific recommendations were made in the areas of student outcomes, partnerships, delivery, life skills, assessment and guidance, and cooperation and communication. (This document includes the findings and recommendations of the commission, preceded by an executive summary and summary of recommendations. Appendixes include the text of remarks by the BOCES district superintendent, Rene L. Bouchard, and by Lorin Cooper, director of occupational education; a literature survey with 25 references; graduate characteristics and skills; scales for validation of basic and expanded basic skills; student outcomes; and a sample student schedule.) (KC)