Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Career and technical education (CTE) provides students with the skills, knowledge, and experiences necessary to enter the labor market or continue with further occupational education or training. CTE is typically delivered through career-related courses and programs in high schools, community and technical colleges, and private trade schools. The federal government supports CTE through the Carl D. Perkins Act, which provides funds to states for CTE at the secondary and postsecondary levels. The Institute of Education Sciences has a growing body of research in education and special education, evaluation, statistics, and resources aimed at improving CTE for students at all levels.