Career and technical education (CTE) has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past several decades, evolving from a system often associated with vocational tracking to one that prepares students for high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand careers. In this episode, we explore how education policy, accountability, and strategic communication reshaped public perceptions of CTE and helped position it as one of the few education issues with sustained bipartisan support.

Through a conversation with Stacy Whitehouse, Associate Director of Communications at Advance CTE, and insights from current research, we examine the policies, national initiatives, and messaging strategies that have driven CTE's evolution. Together, we discuss the field's past, present, and future while considering what it will take to ensure career and technical educatio ...