States have been working to increase the rigor and effectiveness of career and technical education to both meet the needs of their students and to address the workforce needs of the state and the nation. This StateNote, while not exhaustive, highlights efforts in the states that appear to be "ahead of the curve" in state policy approaches. Areas examined include: accountability; alignment; career-ready certification; charter schools; dropout prevention/retrieval programs; dual/concurrent enrollment; high-demand occupations; middle schools; rigorous and applied learning; scholarships; special populations; and career advisors and faculty recruitment.