Competing societal and political values have historically facilitated shifts in the policies surrounding the goals of and the practices within Career and Technical Education (CTE). These values, however, are malleable and are developed in response to demands wrought by economic need. This review sheds light on how a confluence of societal and political factors facilitated changes in the values, goals, and practices of vocational education. In so doing, the present manuscript seeks to underscore how modern attitudes about schooling and society may shape the current landscape of the field. The rise of equity and accountability oriented reform in the field of CTE is especially considered in this study. As the field continues to evolve, CTE is likely to experience more changes informed by societal values. Thus, this article uses a historical analysis to elucidate how political and social shifts in values will have important implications for modern CTE policy and practice.