Career Academy Incentive Fund (CAIF)
Can you apply?
This grant is for school districts and community colleges in Iowa that want to expand career academy programs. One school district and one community college must partner together to apply. Proposals for new career academies delivered through regional centers by multiple school districts and a community college receive priority. Regional centers must offer at least four career academy programs and serve a minimum of 120 students from two districts or four districts total.
Career academies must provide concurrent enrollment where students earn both high school and college credit. Programs should include a sequence of themed coursework and partnerships with employers and community organizations. Eligible applicants must be Iowa-based public school districts paired with Iowa community colleges.
This grant is for school districts and community colleges in Iowa that want to expand career academy programs. One school district and one community college must partner together to apply. Proposals for new career academies delivered through regional centers by multiple school districts and a community college receive priority. Regional centers must offer at least four career academy programs and serve a minimum of 120 students from two districts or four districts total.
Career academies must provide concurrent enrollment where students earn both high school and college credit. Programs should include a sequence of themed coursework and partnerships with employers and community organizations. Eligible applicants must be Iowa-based public school districts paired with Iowa community colleges.
Program description
*Do not complete the Career Academy Incentive Fund (CAIF) Iowa Grants Application unless you have been officially awarded a CAIF grant.* Career Academy Incentive Fund The Career Academy Incentive Fund was created through the reauthorization of the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) fund in 2019. It provides targeted grants to support partnerships between school districts and community colleges that expand access to career academy programs, with a focus on programming delivered through regional centers. Annually, the Iowa Department of Education will award grants of up to $1 million for projects that best meet the criteria specified in statute (the number of grants issued will be based on the amount of available funds and types of applications received). To be eligible, applications must include one school district and one community college. Proposals for new career academies delivered collaboratively between multiple school districts and a community college through a regional center will receive priority consideration. Regional Center : A regional center is a facility for the delivery of career and technical education programming. Regional centers must: Provide access to at least four career academy programs. Serve either a combined minimum of 120 students from at least two school districts or a minimum of four school districts. Career Academy : According to the Iowa statute, career academies are career-oriented programs of study that link secondary career and technical education to a postsecondary education program. The career academy concept has three key elements: Concurrent enrollment coursework where students earn both high school and college credit upon successful completion of community college coursework. A sequence of coursework with a career theme which provides an appropriate foundation for entrance into the postsecondary program. Strong partnerships between employers, school districts, higher education institutions and the community.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Details
This grant is for school districts and community colleges in Iowa that want to expand career academy programs. One school district and one community college must partner together to apply. Proposals for new career academies delivered through regional centers by multiple school districts and a community college receive priority. Regional centers must offer at least four career academy programs and serve a minimum of 120 students from two districts or four districts total.
Career academies must provide concurrent enrollment where students earn both high school and college credit. Programs should include a sequence of themed coursework and partnerships with employers and community organizations. Eligible applicants must be Iowa-based public school districts paired with Iowa community colleges.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Completed CAIF application form (if awarded pre-award notification)
- School district and community college partnership agreement
- Career academy program description and curriculum outline
- Employer engagement letters and commitment statements
- Regional center documentation (if applicable)
- Budget narrative and expenditure plan
Program contact
- 👤 Heather Meissen
- 📧 heather.meissen@iowa.gov
- 📞 (515) 326-5378
FAQ
Who can apply for CAIF grants?
One school district and one community college in Iowa must partner together. Proposals including multiple school districts with a community college through a regional center get priority.
What is a regional center?
A facility delivering career and technical education with at least four career academy programs. It must serve either 120+ students from two districts or serve four or more districts total.
What makes a competitive career academy proposal?
Strong employer partnerships, concurrent enrollment opportunities, and a themed sequence of coursework. Regional center proposals with multiple districts receive priority consideration.
Are there restrictions on what careers can be offered?
Career academies must link secondary and postsecondary education with employer engagement. The focus is on programs that provide both high school and college credit simultaneously.
How much funding is available?
Awards are up to $1 million per grant. The number of grants depends on available funds and application quality.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Demonstrate strong partnerships between school district, community college, employers, and community organizations before submitting. Weak partnerships are a common rejection reason.
- If proposing a regional center model, clearly show how multiple school districts will collaborate and how you'll serve the minimum 120 students or four districts.
- Emphasize the concurrent enrollment component—students earning both high school and college credit simultaneously strengthens competitiveness.
- Include clear career pathways and employer engagement letters showing commitment to the career academy programs you propose.
- Start planning early; Iowa Department of Education must officially award your grant before you submit the full application.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without a confirmed school district and community college partnership. Proposing career academies without clear employer engagement or concurrent enrollment structures. Underestimating the minimum student enrollment or district participation numbers required for regional centers.
Similar grants
- OPEN 27-0343-10 FFY27 Local Agency General Non-Enforcement — Illinois Department of Transportation
- ROLLING RTAP Grant Program (Rolling) — Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
- OPEN Special Education 2026-2027 – IDEA B Grants — North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
- OPEN FY 27 Computer Science Incentive Fund – ENDORSEMENTS — Iowa Education
- OPEN John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program 2026 (Prosecutors/Public Defenders) — Iowa Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy