Intended to help community organizations interested in sponsoring and developing a vocational program, this reference guide identifies and discusses some major administrative, financial, and program concerns that constitute the embedding context of successful vocational education programs. Focus of the guide is on core elements that must be in place before a program is certified by the Vocational Education Section of the Kansas State Department of Education. Discussed in the main body of the guide are the host organization's mission and purpose, the advisory council, interorganzational arrangements, student management policies, and the budget process. Appended are extracts from principal public laws and regulations applying to vocational education programs; a list of Kansas junior colleges, area vocational technical schools, and proprietary schools; and an alphabetical listing of occupations with identified clusters. (MN)