This summary offers highlights of a conference hosted by the Southern Regional Educational Board-State Vocational Education Consortium, a 6-year effort to develop, apply, evaluate, and promote strategies to strengthen the basic competencies of high school students enrolled in vocational education programs. An introduction provides summaries of presentations on the conference goals of sharing information and ideas and combining vocational and academic studies; instructional principles for increased learning; conditions forcing change in the educational system; changing school experiences to improve achievement in the basic competencies; leadership as the key to success; and the need for a better-educated work force. Chapter 1 summarizes participants' comments on the first step toward improving the preparation of vocational students for employment and continued learning on the job or at a postsecondary institution--raising expectations for students pursuing vocational studies. Chapter 2 focuses on participant remarks concerning the consortium goal of increasing the percentage of vocational students who complete higher-level academic courses. Chapter 3 focuses on workshop presentations that address emphasis on increased academic content in vocational courses and applied learning activities in academic courses. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 summarize participants' comments on pilot site programs that: advance basic competencies through career guidance and remedial studies; provide staff development for vocational and nonvocational teachers; and participate in an evaluation and assessment plan. A final section is a summary of the conference. (YLB)