The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV; P.L. 109-270) is the most recent federal law supporting career and technical education (CTE) services offered within the states at the secondary and postsecondary education levels. CTE, which has historically been known as vocational education, comprises organized educational activities that provide individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to prepare for the labor market in general and for careers in current or emerging professions in particular. The stated purpose of Perkins IV is to support the development of career and technical, as well as academic, skills among secondary and postsecondary education students enrolled in CTE programs. This report is divided into four major sections. The first section provides an overview of career and technical education, including student participation levels. This is followed by a brief legislative history of the federal government's involvement in CTE. The third section discusses Perkins IV in detail, including an overview of appropriations levels and state performance. The final section summarizes some of the more significant findings from the National Assessment of Career and Technical Education, which was completed in 2015.