Policy

ED Issues Guidance for Development of State Perkins Plans

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 10/29/18

The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act was approved in July 2018. Now states can review draft guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education for how to develop and submit the plans that are a requirement under this rewrite of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education. Perkins V, as it's now known, provides about $1.3 billion annually in federal funding for career and technical education (CTE). It goes into effect at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. Comments will be accepted on the draft until Dec. 24, 2018.

The plans will need to incorporate "state-determined performance levels," which will eventually be reported on the federal agency's website. The idea is that the state has to show that it's making "meaningful progress" toward improving the performance of CTE students.

Among the possible indicators referenced in the guidelines are these:

• The percentage of CTE students who graduate from high school; have gone onto college, "advanced training," the military or the Peace Corps; or who have studied "non-traditional fields";
• The proficiency of those students in reading and language arts, math and science; or
• The share who have participated in work-based learning or who have attained a recognized credential.

The state plans are also expected to be developed with "consultation" from people working in secondary and post-secondary CTE programs; community representatives, such as parents, students, community organizations and those in special populations; and business and industry.

According to the guidance, states have two options for when they submit their plans, either one of which is due in April 2019. They may choose to hand in a one-year transition plan for fiscal year 2019 and then submit a full Perkins V state plan in fiscal year 2020, covering 2020-2023; or they can present a five-year plan up front, which also describes the transition year.

The guidance is available in the Federal Register.