Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V)
On July 31, 2018, President Trump signed into law the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V). The law reauthorizes and updates the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to ensure career and technical education (CTE) programs meet the demands of today’s economy. It includes several changes and additions relevant for educators, postsecondary institutions, employers, workforce development boards, community-based organizations, and others who serve historically underserved students in both secondary and postsecondary education.
Recommendations for State Implementation
The new federal CTE law, Perkins V, provides states and local communities opportunities to ensure all young people—but particularly those from historically underserved groups—can benefit from high-quality CTE programs. It is essential for states to prioritize these students in implementation of the new law and develop plans aligned with the state’s overall vision for preparing learners in a rapidly changing world.
To support their efforts, we offered concrete recommendations, with a focus on equity and quality, as a resource during the development of four-year Perkins V state plans. These recommendations were co-developed with several partners, including the Center for American Progress, Jobs for the Future, the Learning Policy Institute, the Linked Learning Alliance, NAF, and the National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment, Inc.
Understanding Perkins V: All4Ed Primers
Changes in Perkins V
Perkins V includes several modifications that better align and integrate school districts, institutions of higher education, and employers to prepare more young people for high-skill, high-wage careers. Watch the video, or read our fact sheet, for an overview of the biggest changes in the new law.
Accountability Systems
Under Perkins V, states have greater flexibility to set performance levels in their accountability systems for CTE programs. But the law requires states to prioritize the performance of historically underserved students in those systems. Learn more in our primer or watch the video.
College and Career Pathways
There are several provisions in Perkins V that support the implementation of Linked Learning and other high-quality college and career pathways initiatives. Read more about how the new law supports this work, or watch our video.
Webinar: Perkins and Pathways
Special Populations
Perkins V includes specific supports for unique demographic groups, referred to in the law as “special populations,” intended for recruiting and retaining these groups in high-quality career and technical education programs and improving their overall academic performance. Learn more in the fact sheet below.
Additional Resources
CTE Excellence and Equity Act (S.1004)
Recommendations for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act State Plan
Perkins Collaborative Resource Network (U.S. Department of Education)
