The Maryland State Department of Education is actively involved in the development of a five-year state plan for career education. The plan is based upon data derived from a student needs assessment, a survey of LEAs, a survey of counselor competencies, and the AIR Survey of Career Education in the public schools which sampled ten districts in Maryland. The needs assessment clearly indicates that more than 70% of the students evidenced need for help in exploring careers, making post-high school plans, finding jobs and careers, developing career awareness, making career decisions, planning careers and assessing self. In a survey of career development competencies of counselors, prioritized training needs were evidenced in the following areas: inservice training in recommending curriculum changes to correlate with the changing world of work; getting teacher support; knowledge of the career development needs of special groups; and help in assisting teachers to infuse career education into their regular subject areas. The local education agencies evidenced a strong need in securing a local board policy in support of career education and help in strengthening their implementation of career education. From this needs assessment, six key program goals have been developed that are geared toward meeting specific outcome goals for students. (Author/CT)