The federal Perkins Act is designed to develop more fully the academic knowledge and technical and employability skills of secondary and postsecondary education students who elect to enroll in career and technical education programs. Perkins V recognizes, in a way that previous iterations of Perkins legislation did not, the value and importance of in-depth, continual programmatic self-examination to improve programs and benefit students.
Both Chapter 74-approved vocational technical education programs and Non-Chapter 74 career and technical education programs meet the federal Perkins Act definition of career and technical education and are considered Perkins programs.
This Perkins V Manual addresses the requirements identified in Perkins V.
There are reporting, performance, accountability and monitoring requirements associated with Perkins:
Who to contact:
For programmatic questions, please contact the Office for College, Career, and Technical Education (CCTE) which oversees High Quality College and Career Pathways. Please contact the CCTE Office at 781-338-3910 or CCTE@mass.gov or go to the list of CCTE district liaisons.
For Perkins Fund Code 400 & 401 grant application questions, please contact the Federal Grant Programs office, which oversees federal grants, at 781-338-6230 or contact your federal grants liaison directly.
For programmatic and grant questions related to correctional agencies, please contact Karen DeCoster, Corrections Education Specialist in the Office for Adult & Community Learning Services (ACLS), at 781-338-3815 or KarenA.DeCoster@mass.gov .
Which programs are Perkins programs?
Both Chapter 74-approved vocational technical education programs and Non-Chapter 74 career and technical education programs meet the federal Perkins Act definition of career and technical education and are considered Perkins programs. See the Chapter 74 Manual for those programs.
"Career/vocational technical education programs" is the term used to denote both Chapter 74-approved vocational technical education programs and Non-Chapter 74 career and technical education programs.
This manual is the 'umbrella manual' for Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act-Perkins V in Massachusetts. The manual will be updated as policy guidance is developed and disseminated by the United States Department of Education. The contents including requirements set forth in this manual are therefore subject to change.
Massachusetts submitted a Perkins V State Plan which covers activities through 2024 and has been approved by the US ED. US ED has called out these noteworthy elements of the Massachusetts State Plan:
Links employers and schools for work-based learning experiences and career development activities through its Connecting Activities initiative - including a special focus on STEM employers.
Expands access to an array of engaging academic and career programs of study in strong and growing industries and occupations through its High-Quality College and Career Pathways Initiative (HQCCP).
Requires internship or capstone experiences through its Innovation Pathways structure that connects student learning to an in-demand industry sector within its regional and state economy.
Last Updated: August 15, 2022
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