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Required Use of Funds

Perkins Act Fund Usage

Each eligible recipient that receives funds under this part shall use such funds to improve CTE programs.   In accordance with the Section 135 of the Perkins Act, funds made available to eligible recipients under this part shall be used to support CTE programs that—

  1. Strengthen the academic and career and technical skills of students participating in CTE programs, by strengthening the academic and CTE components of such programs through the integration of academics with CTE programs through a coherent sequence of courses.
  2. Link CTE at the secondary level and CTE at the postsecondary level, including by offering the relevant elements of not less than one career and technical program of study.
  3. Provide students with strong experience in and understanding of all “aspects of an industry,” which may include work-based learning experiences. The term ‘all aspects of an industry’ means strong experience in, and comprehensive understanding of, the industry that the individual is preparing to enter.
  4. Develop, improve, or expand the use of technology in CTE, which may include
    1. Training of CTE teachers, faculty, and administrators to use technology, which may include distance learning;
    2. Providing CTE students with the academic and career and technical skills (including the mathematics and science knowledge that provides a strong basis for such skills) that lead to entry into the technology fields; or
    3. Encouraging schools to collaborate with technology industries to offer voluntary internships and mentoring programs, including programs that improve the mathematics and science knowledge of students.
  5. Provide professional development programs, including –
    1. In-service and pre-service training on effective integration and use of challenging academic and CTE provided jointly with academic teachers to the extent practicable; effective teaching skills based on research that includes promising practices; effective practices to improve parental and community involvement; and effective use of scientifically based research and data to improve instruction;
    2. Support of education programs for teachers of CTE in public schools and other public school personnel who are involved in the direct delivery of educational services to CTE students, to ensure that such teachers and personnel stay current with all aspects of an industry;
    3. Internship programs that provide relevant business experience; and
    4. Programs designed to train teachers specifically in the effective use and application of technology to improve instruction.
  6. Develop and implement evaluations of the CTE programs carried out with funds under this title, including an assessment of how the needs of special populations are being met.
  7. Initiate, improve, expand, and modernize quality CTE programs, including relevant technology.
  8. Provide services and activities that are of sufficient size, scope, and quality to be effective.
  9. Provide activities to prepare special populations, including single parents and displaced homemakers who are enrolled in CTE programs, for high-skill and high-wage, and high-demand occupations that will lead to self-sufficiency.