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IN RECENT EFFORTS OF THE U.S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND ADAPTATION OF EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE, VISIBILITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO COMMUNITIES WHICH HAVE INTRODUCED NEW CURRICULUMS, TEACHING METHODS, AND INSTITUTIONAL PATTERNS. FIVE LOCALLY-INITIATED PROGRAMS WHICH HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PROVIDE A FLEXIBILITY OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS OF VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS AND ABILITY LEVELS HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR EXPOSURE ON THE BASIS OF COMMUNITY SIZE, GEOGRAPHICAL REGION, AND PROGRAM TYPE. THE "RICHMOND PRETECHNICAL PROGRAM" NOW OPERATING IN 19 HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA USES STUDENTS' PRACTICAL AND OCCUPATIONAL INTEREST AS A MEANS OF DEVELOPING GENERAL AND ACADEMIC SKILLS BY UNIFYING PHYSICS, MATH, ENGLISH, AND SHOP COURSES TO ELIMINATE ARTIFICIAL FRAGMENTATION OF SUBJECT MATTER. GEORGIA'S 18 POST-SECONDARY VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, GEARED TO INDUSTRY DEMANDS, REQUIRED CHANGED ATTITUDES AND NEW ADMINISTRATIVE TECHNIQUES TO GROW FROM A SCHOOL SYSTEM DEVOTED ALMOST ENTIRELY TO TRAINING FOR AGRICULTURAL OCCUPATIONS. THE "MARKET STREET SCHOOL" IN WARREN, OHIO, BROUGHT SIXTH TO NINTH GRADE SLOW LEARNERS TOGETHER IN AN ENTIRELY NEW ENVIRONMENT TO PROVIDE NEEDED GENERAL AND VOCATIONAL SKILLS. PHOENIX, ARIZONA, BUILT INTO ITS EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURE A COMPLETE PARAMEDICAL TRAINING CAPABILITY BY COOPERATIVE EFFORT OF THE PROFESSIONS, HOSPITALS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND EDUCATION LEADERS AT STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, IS AN EXAMPLE OF A CITY IN WHICH VOCATIONAL EDUCATION HAS SHIFTED FROM TRAINING FOR A SINGLE SKILL TO PREPARING INDIVIDUALS FOR A CLUSTER OF OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS. THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE AS FS5.280--80047 FOR 30 CENTS FROM SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS, U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20402. (JM)