This set of five digests provides an overview of the issue of attaining excellence in vocational education. The first digest deals with effective schools research, characteristics of effective schools, implications of effective schools research for high school vocational education, and strategies for improving school effectiveness. Covered in the second digest are the following aspects of the effects of career education on student achievement and retention: excellence and career education goals; career education models; and the effects of career education on school achievement, school retention, and career and educational planning skills. The next digest, which examines time on task in vocational education, discusses the nature, importance, and use of time on task in secondary and postsecondary vocational education as well as factors related to efficient use of time and strategies teachers can use to improve time spent on task. Included in the digest on employers' expectations of vocational education are discussions of the following: how employers grade vocational education, why they hire vocational graduates, what vocational programs should emphasize, what are some barriers to cooperating with vocational education, and how these barriers can be overcome. The final digest addresses the nature and importance of the new basics; acceptable basic skills attainment levels for vocational students; and strategies, resources, and models available for use in teaching the new basics through vocational education. Each digest includes a bibliography of resources, most of which are available from the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) system. (MN)