The idea of people who are "under your nose" yet unseen seemed relevant as the author read two documents that draw on the same research. They use different language and come to different conclusions. The differences are subtle to be sure, but one document tends not to see much, while the other sees a lot. The first document is the National Assessment of Vocational Education: Final Report to Congress, which was submitted this past summer. The other document is the Report of the NAVE Independent Advisory Panel. This panel was appointed to guide the research for NAVE and to comment on the final report. While eminent research groups prepared the data for the NAVE report, it was actually written by a group in the policy office of the U.S. secretary of education. The Advisory Panel, which met many times over four years, included employers, secondary and postsecondary educators, union representatives, work force development experts, and researchers. Consider the data used in both reports. Both agree, for example, that the clearest benefits of CTE can be seen in earnings. NAVE calls them "short- and medium-term benefits." Taking four high school CTE courses for credit increases a student's average annual earnings by $1,200 immediately and by $1,800 seven years later. Sure, these are short- and medium-term benefits, but the Advisory Panel points out, as NAVE does not, that 37% of the country's high school graduates each year go directly to work. Moreover, the economic benefit for earning a postsecondary credential is also significant: for females with associate degrees, earnings are 47% higher than for those holding only a high school diploma; for males with associate. NAVE ends with questions about an effective federal role. The Advisory Panel report ends with an affirmation that its vision of a reformed CTE program--with academic rigor, real-world relevance, and strong accountability--would expand opportunity for millions of young Americans. These are the "forgotten half" in the nation's schools.