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, or high-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 Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins).
• Provide assistance to states to improve program quality, implementation, and accountability.
• Establish national initiatives that help states implement rigorous career and technical education programs.