This research brief synthesizes decades of evidence to guide district and school leaders on how to design effective Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that expand access and improve student outcomes. It highlights that students who complete structured, multi-course CTE pathways see stronger graduation, earnings, and postsecondary outcomes than those who only take standalone courses. High-quality features such as integrated academics, structured work-based learning, and strong partnerships with employers and colleges are critical drivers of impact. The brief also emphasizes that effective strategies, such as exploratory opportunities before pathway selection, hiring teachers with industry experience, and building intentional partnerships, can broaden access, while rigid tracking, weak work-based learning, and out-of-field teaching risk undermining quality. By implementing evidence-based design principles, education leaders can ensure CTE fulfills its promise as a pathway to both higher education and meaningful careers.