This brief describes new requirements for vocational education program improvement and evaluation mandated by the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act of 1990. Recommendations to enhance the impact of program improvement and evaluation activities are included. The first two sections discuss developing new state accountability systems and improving programs through annual evaluation, local program improvement plans, and joint program improvement plans. The third section addresses ensuring increased achievement for special populations through the following methods: encouraging efforts to serve special populations; using more than the minimum number of measures; evaluating access, learning, and labor market outcomes; selecting measures that assess change over time; and selecting measures that allow for fair comparisons. A discussion of supplementary services necessary to program improvement and eight references complete the document. (KC)