North Carolina's vocational/technical education (VTE) program was examined to (1) describe currently available services, (2) identify issues and concerns regarding the optimal operation and organization of VTE, and (3) draw conclusions and develop recommendations for addressing the issues and concerns identified. Data were collected from a review of current studies, issue papers, and program descriptive documents and from interviews with cognizant agency and institutional personnel. The study findings suggested that there should be an increased emphasis on preparing pupils for the world of work. Employer input and labor growth and demand projections pointed toward a two-tiered labor force with decreased specific occupational education required at the level of greatest demand and increased specific occupational education required at the level of greatest growth. It was therefore recommended that North Carolina's public school education system be restructured to deemphasize occupation-specific programs at the high school level and increase emphasis on basic skills, vocational principles and practices related to clusters of occupations, and skills and attitudes that are critical to transferability and upward mobility. Recommendations related to the state's community college system, Job Training Partnership Act programs, and teacher preparation system were also formulated. (Appendixes include the legislative mandate for the study; lists of documents reviewed and personnel interviewed; descriptive findings related to VTE provision, agency statutory responsibilities for VTE, funding mechanisms for VTE, articulation, and teacher preparation. A figure and 19 tables are also included.) (MN)