Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Purpose of the Perkins Grant?
Who is eligible to receive Perkins dollars?
Why did AEA 267 establish a consortium?
Who belongs to the consortium?
What is the allocation per school district and NIACC?
What are the goals of the consortium?
How do the consortium goals match up with Iowa Department of Education goals?
What is the role of the Career Readiness Council?
What are the outcomes of the consortium?
How are Academies funded?
How time consuming is the work on grant applications and annual reports?
How does staff spend their time?
What can Perkins funds be used for?
How do I log on?

What is the Purpose of the Perkins Grant?
To develop more fully the academic, vocational, and technical skills of secondary and post- secondary students who elect to enroll in vocational and technical education programs (H.R. 1853a).
A secondary career and technical education program must:

1. contain a minimum of three sequential units.
2. be competency based.
3. be articulated with post-secondary programs of study.
4. include field, laboratory, clinical, or on-the-job training.

Who is eligible to receive Perkins dollars?
A local school district that provides vocational/technical education to students is eligible to receive funds independently, as long as their allocation is more than $15,000. If the allocation does not meet the minimum, the district must, if they desire to receive funds, enter into a consortium to provide activities funded by this act.

Why did AEA 267 establish a consortium?
The consortium was established for several reasons:

1. To meet state and federal requirements to establish a governing body for vocational-technical education. The consortium was conceived to minimize the number of governing bodies required by separate state and federal regulations. This consortium is referred to as the Career Readiness Council (CRC).
2. To leverage scarce resources.
3. To promote vocational-technical education in the region
4. To achieve more collectively than one could achieve acting alone.

Who belongs to the consortium?
Membership includes: all school districts in Area II, NIACC, AEA, Workforce Development, business and labor representatives, and a transition advisory board member.

What is the allocation per school district and NIACC?
The AEA Career and Technical consultant has information about school district allocations. NIACC provides additional resources for:

1. Facility renovations for regional academy sites.
2. Equipment purchases for regional academy sites.
3. School Partnerships Coordinator: 10.5-month position
4. Administrative Assistant for School Partnerships programs: 12-month position.
5. Director of School Partnerships: 12-month position.

What are the goals of the consortium?
The Career Readiness Council sets the goals, which are:

1. Develop and Enhance Shared Programs.
2. Support Local Districts in Their Comprehensive School Improvement Goals.
3. Strengthen Career Counseling and Career Education Programs.
4. Meet Increased Needs Associated with Diversity and Globalization.
5. Foster Business, Industry, and Professional Connections for Our Students, Teachers and Employers.

How do the consortium goals match up with Iowa Department of Education goals?
Components to be included in the comprehensive school improvement plan:

1. Career Education
2. Multi-cultural and Gender Fair Education
3. Vocational Education

School districts are also charged with involving the community in comprehensive school improvement. The consortium goals of career education, connections with business and industry, and diversity coincide with these state guidelines for comprehensive school improvement. The shared programs and applied academic goals are directed toward improving learning, achievement, and performance of all students, which is the goal of school improvement.

What is the role of the Career Readiness Council?
According to the bylaws of the Career Readiness Council:

Purpose. It shall be the responsibility of the Career Readiness Council to establish policy and provide direction and oversight for the Career Link, and Perkins grants. In addition, other unspecified grants and area-wide allocations may be included as subsequently agreed upon by the Council. To improve the quality of life in Area 267 - Clear Lake Region, the Council serves as a communication link between Area 267 - Clear Lake Region schools and stakeholders, State Department of Education, and regional partners. The Council provides guidance, support, and assistance to schools and partners. The Council shall also perform the duties of the Regional Planning Board. The service delivery area shall be defined as merged Area 267 - Clear Lake Region.

The Council shall collaborate with employment and training providers, higher education, human service organizations, local schools, the community college, the area education agency, economic development organizations and the private sector to implement and operate successful school career activities in Area Two.

Authority. The Council shall operate under the authority granted in the Perkins Grant, the Tech Prep Grant, and any other agreed-upon grants.

What are the outcomes of the consortium?
Each summer a report card issue of the Career Tech Connections newsletter is produced containing outcomes. It is distributed to nearly 1500 people.

How are Academies funded?
School district funds, NIACC funds, and state incentive dollars. Perkins funds cannot be used for operational expenses.

How time consuming is the work on grant applications and annual reports?
Staff report that these annual reporting requirements are intensive, detailed, on-going and voluminous.

How does staff utilize their time?

1. Participating in staff development related to career and technical education
2. Building and aligning systems
3. Dealing with articulation issues
4. Assisting with school improvement in career and technical education
5. Connecting education with business and industry
6. Promoting career education through the Career Development System
7. Developing a sense of community
8. Meeting reporting requirements
9. Helping students attain their goals
10. Interpreting and implementing state and federal requirements
11. Planning and implementing career events for students

What can Perkins funds be used for?
According to the federal legislation, Perkins funds may be used to: (abbreviated list)

1. Provide professional development programs to teachers, counselors, and administrators, including:
   • in-service in state-of-the-art vocational and technical programs and techniques
   • in-service in effective practices to improve parental and community involvement
   • support of education programs for teachers of vocational and technical education
   • internship programs that provide business experience to teachers
   • programs to train teachers specifically in the use and application of technology
2. Develop and implement evaluations of vocational and technical education programs, including an assessment of how needs of special populations are being met.
3. Initiate, improve, expand, and modernize quality vocational and technical education programs.
4. Link secondary and post secondary vocational and technical education programs, including implementing Tech Prep programs.
5. Involve parents, businesses, and labor organizations as appropriate, in the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs.
6. Provide career guidance and academic counseling for students participating in vocational and technical education programs.
7. Provide work-related experiences related to vocational and technical education programs.
8. Provide programs for special populations.
9. Provide for local education and business partnerships.
10. Assist vocational and technical student organizations.
11. Provide for mentoring and support services.
12. Provide for leasing, purchasing, upgrading or adapting equipment, including instructional aids.
13. Provide for improving or developing new vocational and technical education courses.
14. Support nontraditional training and employment activities.

Perkins funds may not be used for:

1. Student textbooks
2. Food
3. Tuition
4. Program operation

How do I log on?
Instructions [PDF]