Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE): Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Program

Overview

Purpose of Program: The purpose of the PIM grant program is to identify, support, and rigorously evaluate evidence-based and innovative strategies and activities to improve and modernize career and technical education (CTE) and ensure workforce skills taught in CTE programs funded under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, as amended by the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V), align with labor market needs.

With this competition, the Department seeks to support applicants that will build capacity among secondary education, postsecondary education, and workforce development systems to expand access to career connected high school programs for more students.

This notice contains three absolute priorities and two competitive preference priorities.
We consider only applications that meet Absolute Priority 1 and Absolute Priority 2; or Absolute Priority 1, Absolute Priority 2 and Absolute Priority 3.

Absolute Priority 1—Career Connected High Schools.

To meet this priority, an applicant must submit a detailed 5-year implementation plan to increase the alignment and integration of high school and the first 2 years of postsecondary education in one or more high schools that describes the extent to which the applicant is currently implementing career-connected learning, with supporting data if available; and describes how the applicant will substantially increase the proportion of students who graduate from high school with the following four keys for career connected learning: 

(a) Education and career goals documented in a personalized postsecondary education and career plan that was updated at least once in each year of high school through a system of career guidance and academic counseling (as defined by this notice) and postsecondary education navigation supports that offers college and career coaching from trained advisors that is culturally responsive and informed by accurate and current labor market information; 

(b) Postsecondary credits earned from dual or concurrent enrollment programs that are part of a program of study that culminates with an associate, bachelor’s, or advanced degree, or completion of a Registered Apprenticeship Program; 

(c) Work experience gained through participation in one or more work-based learning opportunities for which they received wages, academic credit, or both; and 

(d) An in-demand and high-value industry-recognized credential. 

Absolute Priority 2—Promoting Equity in Student Access to Educational Resources and Opportunities. Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the applicant proposes a project designed to promote educational equity and adequacy in resources and opportunity for underserved students in high school that examines the sources of inequity and inadequacy and implements responses, and that includes rigorous, engaging, and well-rounded (e.g., that includes music and the arts) approaches to learning that are inclusive with regard to race, ethnicity, culture, language, and disability status and prepare students for college, career, and civic life, including the following: 

(a) Advanced courses and programs, including dual enrollment and early college programs. 

(b) Project-based and experiential learning, including service and work based learning.

(c) High-quality CTE courses, pathways, and industry-recognized credentials that are integrated into the curriculum. 

Absolute Priority 3—Rural Communities.

To meet this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the proposed project will serve students residing in rural communities and identify by name, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) LEA identification number, and NCES locale code, the rural LEA(s) that it proposes to serve in its grant application. 

Competitive Preference Priorities: 

Applicants that choose to address Competitive Preference Priority 1(a) may also address Competitive Preference Priority 1(b). To be considered for the maximum number of points for this competitive preference priority (7), an applicant must address both parts. An applicant may choose, however, to address only Competitive Preference 1(a) and receive 5 points.

Competitive Preference Priority 1— Partnership Applications (up to 7 points total).

• Competitive Preference Priority 1(a)— Partnership Requirements (5 points): Competitive Preference Priority 1(a) seeks eligible applicants that apply as a partnership that includes an LEA, a community or technical college or another IHE, and, to ensure the project prepares students for in-demand careers, employers. 
• Competitive Preference Priority 1(b)— Promoting Equity in Student Access to Educational Resources and Opportunities (2 points): Competitive Preference Priority 1(b) is from the Supplemental Priorities and establishes a competitive priority for applicants whose postsecondary partner is a Historically Black college or university, Tribal College or University, or a minority-serving institution.  

Competitive Preference Priority 2— Serving Students from Families with Low Incomes (up to 8 points)

To meet this priority, applicants must submit a plan to predominantly serve students from families with low incomes and provides evidence that a specific minimum percentage of students from families with low incomes will be served by the project over the course of the grant project period.

Demonstration of Matching Funds:  Each applicant must provide from non-Federal sources (e.g., State, local, or private sources) an amount equal to not less than 50 percent of funds provided under the grant, which may be provided in cash or through in-kind contributions, to carry out activities supported by the grant unless it receives a waiver due to exceptional circumstances.

• Estimated Range of Awards: $1,100,000–$1,475,000 for each 12- month project period (i.e., a total of approximately $3,425,000–$4,425,000 over the full potential 36-month project period).
• Estimated Number of Awards: 10–20
• Project Period: Up to 36 months, with potential for renewal of up to an additional 24 months.