Perkins Grant

Synopsis of the Carl Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998

Purpose:

To develop more fully the academic, vocational, and technical skills of secondary and post-secondary students who elect to enroll in vocational technical education programs, by

1. building on the efforts of States and localities to develop challenging academic standards;
2. promoting the development of services and activities that integrate academic, vocational, and technical instruction, and that link secondary and post-secondary vocational programs;
3. increasing State and local flexibility in providing services and activities designed to develop, implement, and improve vocational and technical education;
4. disseminating national research, and providing professional development and technical assistance that will improve vocational and technical education programs, services, and activities.

State goals for use of funds:

1. academic and technical skills (professional technical education) development for students in vocational programs
2. success of special populations students including alternative learning options
3. "nontraditional" training (related to gender imbalance in occupations)
4. "all aspects" of an industry (related to a broad understanding of world of work, i.e., marketing, finance, production, customer service, management, human resources, etc.)
5. partnerships among stakeholders of schools (parents, business, etc.)
6. assessment of quality of programs
7. professional development of educators
8. comprehensive school counseling and career development
9. connections between secondary and post-secondary (curriculum and assessments)
10. school improvement e.g. CIM and CAM implementation
11. curriculum development, implementation and integration
12. application of technology to the teaching process and as training of students in technology related careers