This paper suggests a variety of topics for the National Assessment of Vocational Education (NAVE) to support as it reviews progress under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Technical Education Act 1998 (Perkins III). Section 1 covers the task most closely related to the legislation itself, which is to examine how community colleges and other postsecondary institutions have responded to the key requirements of Perkins III. The requirements are: development of accountability measures; incorporation of academic competencies into postsecondary occupational education (PSOE) and the integration of academic and occupational education; tech prep efforts to link high schools and community colleges; allocation of federal funds; and types of institutions providing PSOE. Section 2 addresses five criteria to judge the effectiveness of PSOE programs, each of which serves as a starting point for at least two kinds of research: determining what conventional or modal practices in PSOE are and identifying promising practices for others to emulate. The criteria are labor market information and connections; curriculum and pedagogy; support services; connections to other programs; and data and improvement. Section 3 examines four issues beyond Perkins III: meaning of completion; "new fluidity" in postsecondary education; limited success of federal legislation; and the role the federal government should perform. (YLB)