While strongly supporting the passage of the Youth Act of 1980 (S-2385), the American Vocational Association (AVA) contends that improvements are needed in the bill in order to effect optimal linkages between employment and education agencies toward solving the youth unemployment problem. Specific changes would (1) further the potential of vocational education toward moving disadvantaged youth into stable jobs; (2) assure that quality jobs will be developed; and (3) guarantee Comprehensive Employment and Training Act/Vocational Education linkages as well as S-2385/vocational education linkages. Specifically, six concepts contained in S-2385 and the President's Youth Initiative are supported: (1) basic skills grants; (2) planning efforts linking school programs to the community; (3) using existing resources to link new programs to existing educational programs; (4) allocating a minimum of 25% of the funds to vocational education skills development; (5) flexibility of decision making, allowing creativity at state and local levels; and (6) support for a higher quality education an an opportunity for youths to become more stable in jobs. (Five suggested changes to the overall bill, six to title I, and eleven to title II are outlined.) (MEK)