POTENTIAL NEW DIRECTION 3

 

Encouraging the Development of Approved Programs at LEAs

That Meet Minimum Requirements for Receiving Perkins IV Formula Allocations

 

With the increased emphasis placed by Perkins IV on ensuring the quality and performance of programs supported under the Act, the New York State Education Department sees new opportunity for secondary level CTE programs that have not participated in the New York State Program Approval Process to obtain funding to develop approved programs. The Department seeks to increase the number of Approved Programs offered by LEAs.

 

The Department understands that there may be challenges in meeting all of the requirements that the Program Approval Process entails.  Many CTE educators in the LEAs do not see the Program Approval Process or Perkins funding as relevant to the operation of their CTE programs.

 

Changes in New York’s administration of Perkins have created new opportunities that allow LEAs to access their Perkins funds directly. Schools with programs meeting size and scope[1] whose allocations are $15,000 or greater may apply directly for their Perkins funds (instead of assigning them to the BOCES).

 

In addition to their Title I allocations, LEAs should receive additional support and assistance to improve the numbers of those completing the Program Approval Process (which satisfies the Perkins requirement for “programs of study”). To incentivize the development of high school CTE programs that will receive program approval from the State, we propose using the reserve fund to offer competitive grants to high schools that have no approved programs and wish to apply for Perkins funding for the first time.

 

The State Education Department is soliciting advice on including this potential direction in the Perkins IV Five-Year State Plan.

 


[1] Size and scope for 2007-2008 Perkins grants is demonstrated when the local agency offers programs in at least three of the sixteen career clusters and meets one of the following:
1. has special populations that represent at least 63.22% of the reported CTE students at the agency, or, 2. has special populations that represent at least 44.17% of the reported CTE students at the agency AND has a total secondary CTE enrollment that is at least 23.70% of the overall student 9-12 population…. Schools must also offer at least one program of study and have a plan to implement career clusters/career pathways initiatives.