The major data and findings of a national study of vocational education systems and facilities are presented in this first of a four-volume report. Part I is organized as follows: chapter I describes the present and historical organization of state vocational education administration structures and identifies types of state agency relationships that have an impact on the formulation and implementation of policies and programs; chapter II summarizes the vocational education system in terms of types of institutions, operating characteristics of these institutions, and the patterns of governance and fiscal status of the programs administered by local education agencies; chapter III presents factors that have historically affected the use of state and federal funds in the expansion and operation of programs; and chapters IV and V describe the practices of the states and territories in the financing of facilities construction, equipment acquisition, and operating costs in different types of institutions. Part II contains three chapters: chapter VI describes the facility resources of the nation's vocational education system; chapter VII presents an analysis of the utilization of facilities; and chapter VIII describes the program offerings and admission characteristics of vocational education institutions. Part III consists of the concluding chapter, which discusses how new facilities and programs are planned and describes factors that affect the planning and decision making process in the use of facilities and resources. (Also available are the following related volumes: vol. II, State Vocational Education System Descriptions [CE 018 974]; vol. III, Methodology Report [CE 018 975]; and the Executive Summary [CE 018 971].) (JH)