Using ACTE’s Quality Framework to Support CLNA

Perkins V requires that school districts and institutions receiving federal funds conduct a comprehensive local needs assessment (CLNA) at least every two years to gauge how well aligned their CTE programs are to the needs of students, employers and communities. The first CLNA was conducted in fall 2019 and winter 2020 and many CTE educators are now gearing up for the second CLNA process. One tool that can support this effort is ACTE’s Quality CTE Program of Study Framework and its companion self-evaluation instrument.

CLNA Requirements

Each state has created its own templates and resources to help local recipients conduct the CLNA and its own timeline for when CLNAs must be completed, but all state templates should include the following components identified in the legislation:

1. Student performance on federal accountability indicators, disaggregated
2. How programs are aligned to labor market needs
3. Whether programs are of sufficient size, scope and quality to meet all students’ needs
4. Progress toward implementing programs and programs of study
5. Efforts to improve recruitment, retention and training of faculty and staff
6. Progress toward improving access and equity

Using ACTE’s Framework for CLNA

ACTE’s evidence-based Quality CTE Program of Study Framework and self-evaluation tool can serve as the foundation of an assessment of program implementation, quality, access and equity as part of the CLNA. With more than 90 criteria organized under 12 elements, the Framework captures the full range of activities across a CTE program of study:

Standards-aligned and Integrated Curriculum	Facilities, Equipment, Technology and Materials
Sequencing and Articulation	Business and Community Partnerships
Student Assessment	Student Career Development
Prepared and Effective Program Staff	Career and Technical Student Organizations
Engaging Instruction	Work-based Learning
Access and Equity	Data and Program Improvement

Results from the self-evaluation may be particularly useful when responding to questions in a state’s CLNA template about program size, scope and quality and about implementation of programs and programs of study. Scores on specific elements of the Framework can apply to additional sections of the CLNA; for instance, responses to criteria in the Prepared and Effective Program Staff element can inform the section on recruitment, retention and training of faculty and staff while responses to criteria in the Access and Equity element can apply to questions on improving progress in those areas.

For more tips on how to use the ACTE Framework when conducting the CLNA, read our latest brief, ACTE’s Quality CTE Program of Study Framework Self-evaluation: A Tool for the Perkins V Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment.