The Department of Education announced today the availability of $2 million in competitive grants under the Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Program. The intent of this new grant program, which was created under the “National Activities” section in Perkins V, is to identify, support, and rigorously evaluate new evidence-based and innovative strategies that improve and modernize career and technical education (CTE) and better prepare students for success in the labor market. The Department estimates that there will be a total of six grants offered under this program, with each grant totaling $400,000-$500,000. Grants will be awarded for one 36-month long project period with an opportunity for extension.
Funds under this grant can be used for a variety of activities, including designing and implementing courses or Programs of Study aligned to labor market needs in new or emerging fields, working with industry to upgrade equipment, technology, and related curriculum used in CTE programs, improving the transition of students, and creating or expanding recruitment, retention, or professional development activities for CTE teachers, faculty, school leaders, administrators, specialized instructional support personnel, career guidance and academic counselors, and paraprofessionals.
In order to be considered for the grant, the application has one “absolute priority.” The application must include a plan to “create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale evidence-based, field-initiated innovations to modernize and to improve effectiveness and alignment of CTE with labor market needs and to improve student outcomes in CTE.” For a more detailed breakdown of what the plan must include, click here. Two other noteworthy requirements of the grant include that at least 25% of funds available must be awarded to applicants that serve eligible rural communities (if appropriate applications are received), and that the applicant must provide matching funds from non-federal sources equaling at least 50% of the funds received under this grant.
In addition to the one absolute priority, included in the grant competition are three competitive preference priorities that the Department will consider when deciding which projects to award grant funding. The first preference priority focuses on projects that are designed to improve achievement and success outcomes in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The second preference priority that the Department will consider when choosing grantees is projects that are intended to predominantly serve students from low-income families. The last preference priority is for projects that serve students residing, or attending programs, within qualified “Opportunity Zones.” According to the IRS, an Opportunity Zone is “an economically-distressed community where new investments, under certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax treatment.”
Entities that are eligible to apply for grant funds under this competition include an “eligible entity,” “eligible institution,” or “eligible recipient,” as defined under Section 3 of Perkins V. The eligible recipient and eligible institution terms refer to regular Perkins local grant recipients. “Eligible Entity” is a new term introduced in Perkins V that refers to a partnership between a number of entities. Applicants are required to follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), which contain specific requirements and information on how to submit an application.
Below are the important dates to know in relation to the application process.
- Applications Available: April 15, 2019
- Webinar for potential applicants: April 25, 2019
- Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: May 15, 2019
- Applicants are strongly encouraged, but not required to submit notice of intent to apply.
- Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 14, 2019
- Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 13, 2019.
For additional information, please review the April 15 Federal Notice, which details in length the program description, eligibility requirements, award information, application and submission information, etc. Any specific questions regarding the program should be directed to Laura Messenger in the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education, who is the point of contact. To reach her, please call (202) 245-7840 or email [email protected].
Comments