Perkins V

The Perkins program is the primary federal investment in career and technical education at both the secondary and postsecondary levels. The latest iteration of Perkins, known as Perkins V, was signed into law in 2018 as the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (SCATE). The Act, which took effect July 1, 2019, amends the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (Perkins IV) Act of 2006 and reauthorizes Perkins for six years. The Act defines its purpose as “to develop more fully the academic knowledge and technical and employability skills of secondary education students and postsecondary education students who elect to enroll in CTE programs and programs of study.“

Each state participating in the federal Perkins program must submit a four-year plan outlining the state’s approach to implementation of the Act. The U.S. Department of Education approved Florida’s Perkins Four-Year State Plan in June of 2020. The Plan outlines Florida’s commitment to providing all students the opportunity to participate in quality career and technical education (CTE) programs that lead to in-demand occupations. (Links to Florida’s State Plan and an Executive Summary of the Plan are below.)

Each year, Florida receives approximately 81 million dollars (pending annual allocations) through the Perkins program. The bulk of the funds go directly to eligible agencies (school districts and Florida College System institutions) through annual entitlement grants, as well as competitive grants which have in the past included support for entrepreneurship education, agencies serving rural areas, students in Department of Juvenile Justice facilitates, and college career pathways. (Details on all Perkins grant opportunities are found on the Funding Opportunities page linked in the navigation menu.)

If you have questions or comments related to Florida’s Perkins V implementation, please contact us at Perkins@fldoe.org.