This comprehensive report documents and chronicles the significant elements and events which comprise the history of career education from January 1971 to July 1975. The first sections of the report deal with the administrative structure, sources of funding, Federal conceptualization efforts, and the nature of Federal activities relevent to career education during the four-year period. Other sections trace changes of the four original Office of Education Career Education Models (School-Based, Employer-Based, Home-Based, and Rural-Residential Career Education Models), provide background on the 15 Office of Education occupational clusters, and chronicle the legislative history of career education. The document also provides a summary of major national conferences influencing career education and national organizations, agencies, and associations which have endorsed career education since its inception. A bibliography of books and monographs pertinent to career education which have been published since 1971 is included, as well as sections on professional dissent in career education (Council for Basic Education), public opinion about career education as reflected in newspapers, and a bibliography of journal articles intended to serve as criticisms of career education. (EA)