A study was conducted to provide a better understanding of the nature and the operation of the institutions in which exemplary vocational education programs exist. The study employed an interpretive ethnographic design that sought meaning and understanding from within the context of the setting. Twenty-five institutions offering exemplary vocational education programs were identified using an expert panel; they included comprehensive high schools, secondary vocational centers, technical institutes, and community colleges. Fifteen of them were visited for systematic observation and interviews. The study found that a number of general themes were consistent across all the institutions studied. These included the following: (1) a conspicuous focus on quality; (2) participatory leadership; (3) active student organizations; (4) teachers actively involved in curriculum development; (5) high expectations of faculty and students; and (6) adequate funding. (KC)