This document, which draws heavily on lessons learned during 11 years of the Southern Regional Education Board's High Schools That Work initiative, is intended to help state leaders review their existing system for assessing accountability in vocational education or plan such a system. The document begins with a discussion of the purpose of secondary vocational education. The following critical considerations for accountability are discussed in detail: (1) raising content standards; (2) measuring academic achievement against high standards; (3) emphasizing and measuring technical literacy; and (4) considering experiences after high school. The following guiding principles for aligning secondary vocational education with accountability efforts are explained: (1) make continuous improvement in academic and vocational content and instruction the primary focus; (2) set student achievement standards high enough for students to succeed after high school; (3) focus on things that matter to improving student achievement; (4) create a data collection and reporting process that links school and classroom practices with student achievement and tells local school leaders which practices are working; (5) make business/industry and postsecondary leaders partners in implementing reform; (6) conduct on-site technical assistance visits; (7) help schools use data and information effectively; and (8) improve and expand the use of technical literacy tests. (MN)