The Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE), Division of Academic and Technical Education (DATE) is responsible for helping all students acquire challenging academic and technical skills and be prepared for high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand occupations in the 21st century global economy.

OCTAE's career and technical education initiatives are designed to:

• Administer state formula and discretionary grant programs under the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V).
• Provide assistance to states to improve quality, implementation, and accountability of career and technical education programs.
• Establish national initiatives to empower states to better implement high-quality career and technical education programs.