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Career and Technical Education: A Primer. CRS Report R47166, Version 5. Updated

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Title: Career and Technical Education: A Primer. CRS Report R47166, Version 5. Updated
Language: English
Authors: Cassandria Dortch, Rebecca R. Skinner, Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Source: Congressional Research Service. 2026.
Availability: Congressional Research Service. Web site: https://crsreports.congress.gov/
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 29
Publication Date: 2026
Intended Audience: Policymakers
Document Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Secondary Education
Postsecondary Education
Higher Education
Descriptors: Career and Technical Education, Secondary Education, Postsecondary Education, Occupational Clusters, Federal Government, Federal Aid, Career Pathways, Enrollment, Access to Education, Teacher Shortage, Career and Technical Education Teachers, Educational Benefits, Education Work Relationship, Employment, Wages, For Profit Colleges, Public Colleges, Student Organizations, Credentials, Educational Legislation, Federal Legislation, Land Grant Universities, Agricultural Education, Labor Force Development, Job Training
Geographic Terms: Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina
Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: Morrill Act 1862, Smith Hughes Act, Manpower Development and Training Act, Vocational Education Act 1963, Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act 2018
Abstract: To better align both secondary and postsecondary education with the nation's economic and workforce needs, the federal government provides funding to states, institutions of higher education (IHEs), and local educational agencies (LEAs) to support career and technical education (CTE). CTE, sometimes referred to as vocational education, provides occupational preparation at the secondary and postsecondary levels. A CTE program of study is often designed to have an immediate practical application in the workforce while also developing broadly applicable skills such as writing and effective communication. This report provides an overview of CTE, beginning with a discussion of the history of federal support, CTE as defined at the secondary and postsecondary levels, and the most recent enrollment and completion data. The second half of the report discusses challenges with CTE program implementation and access, strategies and resources that have been used to address these challenges, and outcomes associated with participating in and completing CTE programs of study. The Appendix provides additional information on the specifics of career clusters and programs of study referenced throughout the report.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED678588
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Career and Technical Education: A Primer. CRS Report R47166, Version 5. Updated
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Arkansas%22">Arkansas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Connecticut%22">Connecticut</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Indiana%22">Indiana</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Minnesota%22">Minnesota</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22North+Carolina%22">North Carolina</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Morrill+Act+1862%22">Morrill Act 1862</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Smith+Hughes+Act%22">Smith Hughes Act</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Manpower+Development+and+Training+Act%22">Manpower Development and Training Act</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Vocational+Education+Act+1963%22">Vocational Education Act 1963</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Strengthening+Career+and+Technical+Education+for+the+21st+Century+Act+2018%22">Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act 2018</searchLink>
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  Data: To better align both secondary and postsecondary education with the nation's economic and workforce needs, the federal government provides funding to states, institutions of higher education (IHEs), and local educational agencies (LEAs) to support career and technical education (CTE). CTE, sometimes referred to as vocational education, provides occupational preparation at the secondary and postsecondary levels. A CTE program of study is often designed to have an immediate practical application in the workforce while also developing broadly applicable skills such as writing and effective communication. This report provides an overview of CTE, beginning with a discussion of the history of federal support, CTE as defined at the secondary and postsecondary levels, and the most recent enrollment and completion data. The second half of the report discusses challenges with CTE program implementation and access, strategies and resources that have been used to address these challenges, and outcomes associated with participating in and completing CTE programs of study. The Appendix provides additional information on the specifics of career clusters and programs of study referenced throughout the report.
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 29
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Career and Technical Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Secondary Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Postsecondary Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Occupational Clusters
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Federal Government
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Federal Aid
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career Pathways
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Enrollment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Access to Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Shortage
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career and Technical Education Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Benefits
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Education Work Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Employment
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      – SubjectFull: Wages
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      – SubjectFull: For Profit Colleges
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      – SubjectFull: Public Colleges
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      – SubjectFull: Student Organizations
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      – SubjectFull: Credentials
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Legislation
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      – SubjectFull: Labor Force Development
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        Type: general
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Minnesota
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      – SubjectFull: North Carolina
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      – SubjectFull: Morrill Act 1862
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Smith Hughes Act
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Manpower Development and Training Act
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Vocational Education Act 1963
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act 2018
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      – TitleFull: Career and Technical Education: A Primer. CRS Report R47166, Version 5. Updated
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