These proceedings contain papers from a symposium during which 33 practitioners from the fields of education and employment policy formation met to discuss the following topics: the political reality of a Republican majority in Congress and the trend toward increased reliance on block grants as a method of awarding federal funding; the economic realities of growing wage and income disparities; and program implementation under two major scenarios presented in the Gooding (House) and Kassebaum (Senate) bills regarding reforming the education, employment, and rehabilitation systems. The proceedings consist of the following: six papers; an edited summary of the panel and conference discussion in which seven state and local practitioners and seven Congressional respondents took part; and a list of symposium participants. The following papers are included: "Introduction" (Marion Pines); "Toward a Workforce Development Reality Check" (Garth Mangum, Stephen Mangum); "Block Grants--Key to the 'New(t) Federalism'" (Richard P. Nathan); "Guiding Principles for National Employment and Training Reform" (Andrew Sum, Paul Harrington); "Panel and Conference Discussion"; and "Conclusions" (Marion Pines). (MN)