FY2021: Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21^st Century Act (Perkins V) Postsecondary Allocation Grant

Fund Code: 401

Purpose:

The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is to strengthen the Commonwealth's public education system so that every student is prepared to succeed in postsecondary education, compete in the global economy, and understand the rights and responsibilities of American citizens, and in so doing, to close all proficiency gaps.

The goal of Massachusetts' public K-12 education system is to prepare all students for success after high school. Our five core strategies to accelerate the pace of school improvement are:

1. Strengthening standards, curriculum, instruction, and assessment
2. Promoting educator development
3. Supporting social-emotional learning, health, and safety
4. Turning around the state's lowest performing districts and schools
5. Enhancing resource allocation and data use

The purpose of this federal grant is to assist public two-year colleges with programs that meet the definition of career and technical education as contained in the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21^st Century Act P.L. 115-224 (Perkins V)

Priorities:

The priority is to close the achievement gap on the Perkins core indicators of performance for populations who are chronically unemployed or underemployed, including special populations. Note: A minimum of 20% of the allocation funds must be used for secondary-postsecondary linkage activities and services.

Eligibility:

A postsecondary institution or collaborative is eligible to receive funds based on criteria established by the United States Department of Education (USED). Postsecondary institutions/collaboratives must offer Career Technical Education programs that comply with the various elements of Perkins V. In addition, districts must develop a Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment. Grants are awarded to programs after the state reviews and approves its grant application.

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA 84.048A

Funding:

FY2021 FC 401 Perkins V Postsecondary Allocations

Fund Use:

Allocation funds must be used in accordance with Perkins V. Funds shall supplement and not supplant non-Federal funds.

Project Duration:

Upon approval through 08/31/2021

Program Unit:

Resource Allocation Strategy and Planning

Contact:

Federal Grant Programs at federalgrantprograms@mass.gov

Phone Number:

(781) 338-6230

Date Due:

Monday, September 28, 2020

Grant applications are reviewed in the order they are received. Community Colleges eligible to receive Perkins Postsecondary funds are required to take an additional step to obtain funds through the Interdepartmental Service Agreement (ISA) process. This process will add 4 to 6 weeks to the process timeline. Therefore, it is important to keep this in mind, and submit your completed application in a timely fashion.

Required Forms:

FY21 Consolidated Grant Application workbook — to be uploaded with the FC 400 Perkins V Secondary grant submission in EdGrants only.
Colleges that do not receive FC400 Perkins V Secondary should upload the consolidated workbook into the FC 401 submission in EdGrants.

• Signature Page — Standard Contract Form (Tab 1 of Consolidated Application) with an original signature of the Dean/Superintendent/Executive Director. Note: Please sign and date the cover page and ensure the amount matches the amount budgeted. We cannot approve any grant without a signed, properly dated, uploaded signature page. Electronic signatures cannot be accepted.

• Perkins FC 401 Budget must be entered both on the consolidated workbook tab as well as in EdGrants in the Budget Entry formlet. The budget tab in the workbook and the EdGrants budget should match.

• Schedule A (if applicable)

Schedule A Member Supplement (if applicable)

FY21 Federal Grant Assurances —

• Colleges: Signature Page (Page 1 only) completed and signed by the College President for Community Colleges/Superintendent for Consortium. Upload a signed PDF copy of the signature page only with the 401 Application in EdGrants.

• Districts/Charters: to be uploaded with the district's FY21 FC: 305 Title I submission in EdGrants. Signature Page (Page 1 only) completed and signed by the superintendent/Executive Director. If your district does not receive a Title I grant, contact your district's DESE grant liaison or the federal grants programs office at federalgrantprograms@mass.gov for submission instructions. We cannot approve any federal entitlement grant without a signed, properly dated and uploaded Federal Grant Assurance signature page.

Additional
Information:

• Resource Guide — Allowable Costs for Strengthening Career and Technical Education Entitlement Grants

• Quick Reference Guide — Perkins Postsecondary Allowable and Unallowable Costs

• Quick Reference Guide — Perkins V Funding and High-Quality College and Career Pathways (HQCCP)

• Massachusetts Perkins V Manual

• Prenatal through Young Adulthood Family Engagement Framework in Massachusetts

• Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR)

• Grants for Schools: Getting Them and Using Them, A Procedural Manual

Applicants may only legally claim expenses to the grant starting from the date of final DESE approval. The start date for the grant is the date on which the district submits substantially approvable budget and information for the grant. Therefore, to expedite approval, it is essential to have district contact staff that can be reached in July and August to respond to questions, as needed.

Submission
Instructions:

Submit all required grant materials through EdGrants

In EdGrants, institutions are required to create and name the project. Please use the following naming convention for your "Applicant Project Name" in EdGrants:

FY21 FC401 Perkins Applicant LEA Code

In EdGrants, Community College staff assigned the role of "Control User" should enter the grant budget and attach the FY21 Perkins Consolidated Application workbook along with a PDF of the Signature Page with an original signature of the College President or Superintendent for consortium, a PDF of the signed FY21 Federal Grant Assurance Signature page, as well as forms applicable to your FY21 submission. The entire application workbook must be uploaded with your Perkins Postsecondary budget in EdGrants.

For Guidance Documents regarding EdGrants, visit EdGrants: User Guides and Information.

Please note: It is up to the institution to determine who they want to add as EdGrants Front Office users in order to submit grant application as well as payment request information. Please review the EdGrants: User Security Controls to make informed decisions regarding assigning your district level users.

Last Updated: July 16, 2020