– Perkins V – Postsecondary Application (CLNA4 – Spring 2026)

Project Title: Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) Public Law 115-224 CFDA Code: 84.048A Funding Period: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 General Information Each community college is allocated funds based on a formula prescribed by the Act. To apply as an individual applicant, community colleges must generate a minimum allocation of $50,000. Purpose of Grant “The purpose of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education Act for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) is to develop more fully the academic knowledge and technical and employability skills of secondary education students and postsecondary education students who elect to enroll in career and technical education programs and programs of study, by—- 1. Building on the efforts of States and localities to develop challenging academic and technical standards and to assist students in meeting such standards, including preparation for high skill, high wage, or in-demand occupations in current or emerging professions; 2. Promoting the development of services and activities that integrate rigorous and challenging academic and career and technical instruction, and that link secondary and postsecondary education for participating career and technical education students; 3. Increasing State and local flexibility in providing services and activities designed to implement, develop, and improve career and technical education; 4. Conducting and disseminating national research and disseminating information on best practices that, prove career and technical education programs and programs of study, services, and activities; 5. Providing technical assistance which- promotes leadership, initial preparation, and professional development at the State and Local levels; and improves the quality of career and technical education teachers, faculty, administrators, and counselors; 6. Supporting partnerships among secondary schools, postsecondary institutions, baccalaureate degree granting institutions, area career and technical education schools, local workforce investment boards, business and industry, and intermediaries; 7. Providing individuals with opportunities throughout their lifetimes to develop, in conjunction with other education and training programs, the knowledge and skills needed to keep the United States competitive; and 8. Increasing the employment opportunities for populations who are chronically unemployed or underemployed, including individuals with disabilities, individuals from economically disadvantaged families, out-of-workforce individuals, youth who are in, or have aged out of, the foster care system, and homeless individuals.” A summary and the full text of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act can be accessed by clicking here . The full text of Iowa’s State Plan may be viewed on the Department’s website by clicking here . Major Tenets of Perkins V Major Tenet 1: Maintains commitment to programs of study Introduces comprehensive local needs assessment Adds a new competitive grant program that focuses on innovation and modernization Increased focus on alignment to labor market needs Major Tenet 2 : Retains governance structure Allows support for career exploration in the middle grades 5-8; i.e. the “middle grades” Steers the Perkins Reserve Funds toward developing strategic investments and innovations in: high demand career academies with integrated work-based learning regional center development career and technical student organizations (CTSOs); and accelerated, vertically integrated pathways to credentials of value Major Tenet 3: Defines who is included in the accountability system Changes the process for setting performance targets Includes a strengthened stakeholder engagement process Focuses on the disaggregation of data It is the policy of the Iowa Department of Education not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sexual orientation, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, political party affiliation, or actual or potential parental, family or marital status in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code sections 216.9 and 256.10(2), Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d and 2000e), the Equal Pay Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 206, et seq.), Title IX (Educational Amendments, 20 U.S.C.§§ 1681 – 1688), Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.). If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy by the Iowa Department of Education, contact the legal counsel for the Iowa Department of Education, Grimes State Office Building, 400 E 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0146, Telephone: 515-281-5295, or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204-3582, Telephone: (303) 844-5695 FAX: (303) 844-4303, TDD 800-877-8339