This PowerPoint provides a comprehensive overview of the Perkins Act, which federally funds Career and Technical Education.

1. The Perkins Act
Presentation Developed by Micah Melling, CRVP for
2011-2012

2. Presentation Outline and Objectives
To define the Perkins Act
To establish the law’s importance
To discuss the history of the Perkins Act
To provide an overview of the major components
in the Perkins Act
To discuss recent news about the Perkins Act
To explain how the Perkins Act affects Career
and Technical Student Organizations

3. What is the Perkins Act?
The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act is the federal law the funds
Career and Technical Education (CTE).
Currently, the Perkins Act provides
approximately $1.13 billion per fiscal year to be
shared among states.
The programs, funding, and requirements in the
Perkins Act affect CTE programs throughout the
nation.

4. History of the Perkins Act
Vocational Education Act of 1963
The modern era of federal funding for CTE began
with the passage of this legislation.
Congressman Carl D. Perkins was the main
advocate for this law.

5. History of the Perkins Act (Cont)
Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of
1984
In 1984, Congress revised the Vocational
Education Act, and it was renamed for the revered
Carl D. Perkins.

6. History of the Perkins Act (Cont)
Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied
Technology Act of 1990
This legislation marked a turning point for CTE.
Contextual learning and academic measures
became major points of emphasis.
Measures were strengthened to assist “special
populations” and economically-disadvantaged
students.

7. History of the Perkins Act (Cont)
Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical
Education Act of 1998
This legislation provided more flexibility in how
funds were spent, required more contextual-
learning integration, and enhanced accountability
for student achievement.

8. History of the Perkins Act (Cont)
Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education
Act of 2006
The Perkins Act was most recently reauthorized in
2006. The following slides provide an overview of
the most recent Perkins Act.

9. The 2006 Perkins Act
State and Local Uses of Funds
State education departments are allowed to keep
15% of their Perkins funds. The other 85% is
given to school districts and postsecondary
institutions.
For state activities, there are 9 required and 17
permissible uses for Perkins funds.
For local activities, there are 9 required and 20
permissible uses for Perkins funds.

10. The 2006 Perkins Act (Cont)
State Plan
Each state education department was required to
submit a State Plan to the U.S. Department of
Education.
The State Plan explained each state’s strategy for
using their Perkins funds.
This plan was submitted in the spring of
2008, and it covered Fiscal Year 2008-2012.
States can annually revise their State Plan.

11. The 2006 Perkins Act (Cont)
Local Plan
Each local recipient was required to submit a
Local Plan to their state education department.
The Local Plan explained the local recipient’s
strategy for using their Perkins funds.

12. The 2006 Perkins Act (Cont)
Accountability
In cooperation with the U.S. Department of
Education, each state has set quantifiable
performance levels. If these standards are not
met, funding may be withheld from the state.
Local programs have worked with their state
education department to set performance levels.
If these standards are not met, local programs
may be subject to a series of sanctions.

13. The 2006 Perkins Act (Cont)
Programs of Study
Programs of Study create a sequence of class-
work that helps students attain postsecondary
degrees or industry-recognized credentials.
The ultimate goal for implementing Programs of
Study is to help provide a successful transition
between secondary and postsecondary
education.

14. The 2006 Perkins Act (Cont)
Tech Prep
Tech Prep was a program within the Perkins Act
until its funding was eliminated in Fiscal Year
2011.
The goal of Tech Prep was to connect secondary
and postsecondary CTE programs.
When it was still funded, states had the option of
combining the Tech Prep Grant with the “regular”
Perkins Grant.

15. Recent News about the Perkins Act
Fiscal Year 2011 Reduction
From 2002-2011, the Perkins Act was practically
flat-funded at $1.27 billion per fiscal year.
In February of 2011, Congress voted to cut
Perkins funding by $140 million (11%), decreasing
the monetary value of the Perkins Act to
approximately $1.13 billion.
This reduction completely eliminated the Tech
Prep Program ($103 million) and cut the Basic
State Grant by $37 million.

16. Recent News about the Perkins Act
(Cont)
Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriation
In December of 2011, Congress passed an
omnibus funding package that included the
appropriation for the Perkins Act for Fiscal Year
2012.
In this legislation, the Perkins Act was level-
funded at Fiscal Year 2011 levels - approximately
$1.13 billion.

17. Recent News about the Perkins Act
(Cont)
Outlook for Fiscal Year 2013
 With the need to need to reduce the federal
government’s budget, Perkins funding could
potentially be subject to cuts for Fiscal Year 2013.
In his Fiscal Year 2013 Budget
Proposal, President Obama requested that the
Perkins Act be level-funded at approximately
$1.13 billion; however, this proposal does not
ensure that the Perkins Act will be safe from
reductions in Fiscal Year 2013.

18. Recent News about the Perkins Act
(Cont)
Upcoming Reauthorization
The current Perkins Act is authorized through
2012.
A reauthorization will not likely occur in 2012,
though.
Given the slow progress of other reauthorizations,
an official timeline is uncertain.
As long as the program remains funded, the
current law will continue.

19. How Does Funding for CTE Impact
CTSOs?
Under the Perkins Act, state education
departments and school districts are not
required to allocate funding for CTSOs.
CTSOs are specifically listed as a “permissible”
use of Perkins funds, not a “required” use.
However, the Perkins Act still has a large impact
on CTSOs (see the next slides).

20. How Does Funding for CTE Impact
CTSOs? (Cont)
CTE programs are the basis for CTSOs.
Therefore, legislation that affects CTE also
impacts CTSOs.
If funding for CTE is reduced, CTSOs will be
negatively impacted.
If funding for CTE is increased, CTSOs will be
more likely to thrive.

21. Can Perkins Funds be Specifically
Used for CTSOs?
State-Level Activities
Under the Perkins Act, state education
departments are not required to allocate funding
for CTSOs.
However, many state education departments opt
to provide state advisors to administer their
CTSOs.

22. Can Perkins Funds be Specifically
Used for CTSOs? (Cont)
Local-Level Activities
Under the Perkins Act, local recipients are not
required to allocate funding for CTSO activities.
School districts may allocate funding for CTSOs if
they believe that action can help improve student
achievement and meet accountability
requirements.
However, Perkins funds cannot be used to pay for
conference costs, except when dealing with
“special populations.”

23. Points to Remember
The Perkins Act is one of the major driving
forces behind the direction and success of CTE
and, by association, CTSOs.
Under the Perkins Act, the federal government
has provided funding for CTE for nearly 50
years.
The Perkins Act was most recently reauthorized
in 2006.
The 2006 Perkins Act includes many
programs, requirements, and expectations for
state education departments and local
recipients.

24. Points to Remember (Cont)
In February of 2011, Congress cut the
appropriation for the Perkins Act by $140 million
(11%), reducing the law’s monetary value to
approximately $1.13 billion.
The Perkins Act was appropriated at
approximately $1.13 billion for Fiscal Year 2012.
The current Perkins Act is authorized through
2012. However, an official timetable for a
reauthorization is uncertain. As long as the
Perkins Act receives an appropriation, the
current law will continue.

25. Points to Remember (Cont)
CTSOs are listed as a “permissible” use of
Perkins funds, not a required use.
However, CTE programs are the basis for
CTSOs. Therefore, legislation that affects CTE
also impacts CTSOs.
Many state education departments provide a
state advisor to administer their CTSOs.
School districts may allocate funding for CTSOs
if they believe that action can help improve
student achievement and meet accountability
requirements.

26. For More Information…
Three other political outreach resources can be
found on DECA’s SlideShare Account.
A “DECA and Politics” document
A “Political Outreach Kit”
A PowerPoint about “Obtaining Legislators’
Support”

27. Questions?
Email Central Region Vice President Micah
Melling.
decavpmicah@gmail.com.
After May of 2012, contact John Fistolera.
john_fistolera@deca.org