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In late 2017, MDRC was invited by Bloomberg Philanthropies to write a paper detailing the level and rigor of the available evidence supporting career and technical education (CTE). Interest in the field of CTE has experienced a resurgence over the last decade, as the global economy has grown increasingly competitive while students have continued to leave school underprepared for well-paying twenty-first-century jobs. This paper begins with an overview of the issues in the education system and the labor market that led to the current revival of CTE: It argues that the skills today's employers need are not the ones schools are providing adequately. This section is followed by one describing how various policies have fostered the growth of CTE. The third section of the paper provides detail on the major types of programs and their various components. Specifically, the paper defines what is meant by CTE instruction and training, career pathways, apprenticeships, and career-readiness