A statewide career education needs assessment was conducted to evaluate career education in Rhode Island. Items in ten areas (self-awareness, career awareness, attitude development, educational awareness, daily living skills, stereotype elimination, career planning and decision-making skills, information, career exploration, and career preparation) were included in needs assessment surveys administered to teachers, counselors, principals, parents, and members of the business-labor-government community. More than 4,000 students in grades 3, 6, 9, and 12 were tested to determine their knowledge of and attitudes toward career development. Tests revealed that average Rhode Island students could not answer 37 percent of the questions about careers. Students scored strongest in the areas of self-awareness, information, career preparation, and daily living skills. Student deficiencies as perceived by adult respondents differed from actual student deficiencies as indicated by career tests. Adults considered self-awareness and daily living skills most important in relation to career education goals and found information and career exploration least important. Teachers and principals called for more staff training, district-wide coordination of career education programs, more classroom time for career education, and greater collaboration between schools and the community. (Appendixes constituting four-fifths of the report contain the survey instruments). (MN)