On July 22, 1997, a panel of approximately 25 individuals, including members of the Accountability Committee of the National Association of State Directors of Vocational Technical Education, participated in a focus group for the following purposes: to identify the information needed for program accountability; to assess the National Center for Education Statistics' (NCES) current ability to meet those information needs; and to determine how NCES can improve its provision of information about vocational education and school-to-work programs. The focus group identified the primary purposes of collecting national data as follows: describe context and trends; describe and evaluate program practices; monitor compliance; and improve state and local programs. Data regarding the following were deemed necessary: long-term outcomes; intermediate outcomes; adults and lifelong learning; employer information; integration of academic and vocational education; linkage of classroom- and work-based learning; articulation between secondary and postsecondary education; teacher professional development; partnerships; and college/university admission practices. A review of upcoming NCES publications established that several of those publications could provide data in all the information needs areas identified. Ten recommendations about the content and format of future NCES publications were presented. (Attached is the draft of a revised Government Performance and Results Act indicator listing based on input from the focus group.) (MN)