This booklet is designed to serve as a practical guide to assist teachers in using the Illinois Core Curriculum in Agriculture to develop courses of study for local vocational agriculture courses. Provided first is an overview of vocational agriculture programs on the secondary-school level in the state of Illinois. The next section is a guide for using the rural- and metropolitan-area Illinois core curriculum planning kits for vocational agriculture courses. Addressed in the individual sections of the guide are basic steps in developing a course of study, initial development of courses of study using the course planning kit, and revision of courses of study. Appendixes to the booklet contain a list of the rural and metropolitan core units and problem areas as well as a list of other suggested units and problem areas for rural and metropolitan programs. (MN)