What Is Perkins V Funding? A Guide for School Administrators

If you've heard the term "Perkins V" but aren't sure exactly what it means or whether your district qualifies, this guide is for you. Perkins V is the federal government's primary investment in career and technical education — and most public high schools with approved CTE programs are eligible for a formula-based share of it every year. Here's what it is, how it works, and what you need to do to get your district's allocation.

Quick answer: Perkins V (the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act) is the main federal law funding CTE programs at the secondary and postsecondary levels. Congress appropriates approximately $1.4 billion per year. States receive formula grants and distribute at least 85% to local education agencies. Most public high schools with approved CTE programs qualify — no competitive application required.

The Short Version: What Perkins V Actually Is

The full name is the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, signed into law in 2018. It is the fifth reauthorization of the original Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act, which Congress first passed in 1984 in honor of the late Kentucky congressman.

Perkins V has two components:

• Secondary: Funding for CTE programs at public high schools
• Postsecondary: Funding for CTE programs at community colleges and technical schools

Critically, Perkins V is formula-based — not a competitive grant. Your district receives a share of the federal allocation based on population and poverty data, not on the strength of a proposal. You still have to file a Local Application each year, but you are not competing against other districts for a limited pool of awards.

The program is administered federally by OCTAE (the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education), then by state CTE directors, and finally by local education agencies (LEAs).

Who Qualifies for Perkins V Funding?

Eligibility is broader than many administrators assume. Any public school district operating state-approved CTE programs is likely eligible. Specifically:

• Your district must be a local education agency (LEA) — a public school district or similar entity
• Your CTE programs must be part of a recognized Program of Study aligned to one or more of the 16 national career clusters
• You must complete a Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA) every two years
• You must submit an annual Local Application to your state CTE agency

There is no minimum enrollment threshold. Smaller rural districts qualify on the same formula basis as large urban ones — in fact, the formula explicitly accounts for concentration of low-income families, which often benefits rural and high-poverty districts.

How Much Funding Does Your District Get?

The federal allocation to each state is determined by a formula based on two factors:

• The relative population of students ages 5–17 in the state
• The concentration of children from low-income families

States receive their annual allocations in the summer. LEAs typically learn their preliminary allocation in February or March, which aligns with district budget planning cycles.

By law, states must pass through at least 85% of their Perkins funds to LEAs. States may keep up to 10% for state leadership activities and up to 5% for state administration.

To give a sense of scale: Texas receives approximately $55M per year; California receives $130M or more; Ohio receives approximately $52M. Your state CTE agency website will show current and prior-year LEA allocations — search for your state's CTE agency plus "Perkins V LEA allocations."

What Can You Spend Perkins V Funds On?

Perkins V gives districts meaningful flexibility in how they deploy funds — as long as expenditures are tied to approved CTE programs listed in your Local Application.

Allowable uses

• Developing, improving, or updating CTE programs of study
• Purchasing equipment and technology for CTE classrooms
• Professional development for CTE teachers and faculty
• Career guidance and academic counseling
• Work-based learning — internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing
• Services for special populations: students with disabilities, English learners, economically disadvantaged students, foster youth, and homeless youth
• Recruitment and preparation of CTE teachers

Not allowable

• General operating expenses (utilities, janitorial, etc.)
• Building construction or major renovation
• Costs unrelated to the CTE programs listed in your Local Application
• Supplanting — replacing existing state or local funding with Perkins funds. Perkins must supplement, not supplant.

The Perkins V Application Process (Overview)

While Perkins V is not a competitive grant, it does require annual paperwork. Here is the four-step process at a high level:

1. Complete your CLNA (every 2 years). The Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment identifies student needs, program gaps, and priorities. It evaluates performance data disaggregated by student subgroups, access gaps, and labor market alignment. This is the foundation everything else builds on.
2. Develop your Local Application. Using CLNA findings, describe which programs you are funding or improving, how Perkins dollars address identified gaps, how you will serve special populations, and what your performance targets are for federal accountability measures.
3. Submit to your state CTE agency by the deadline. Deadlines vary by state but are typically in spring. Check with your state CTE agency for the current year's window.
4. Implement and report. Track expenditures and submit annual performance data. States conduct periodic monitoring visits to verify compliance.

For state-specific guidance, see our articles on CTE funding in Texas and CTE funding in California.

What Perkins V Doesn't Cover (And What to Use Instead)

Perkins V is powerful, but it has limits. Here is what it does not cover — and where to look instead:

• Competitive or new program grants: Look at state leadership set-aside funds (typically 10% of each state's allocation), California's CTEIG, or state workforce development grants.
• Building new facilities: Look at ESSER funds, local bond measures, or state capital programs.
• After-school programs: Perkins V only covers in-school CTE courses of study. The same content offered after school or as an extracurricular generates no Perkins eligibility and no state allotment funding.
• General career exploration: Activities must be tied to a formal, approved CTE program of study, not standalone career awareness programming.

For a comprehensive view of every federal and state funding source available to high school CTE programs, see our national CTE funding guide for administrators.

Perkins V and the Programs That Qualify

Any CTE program aligned to one of the 16 national career clusters can qualify for Perkins V funding — provided it is state-approved and part of a recognized Program of Study. That includes:

• Real estate pre-licensing as a CTE course of study (Finance career cluster)
• Financial services and insurance programs (Finance career cluster)
• Driving education in states with approved transportation/logistics pathways
• Healthcare, IT, construction, hospitality, agriculture — any of the 16 national career clusters

Aceable provides coursework in real estate, financial services, and driving education that aligns with Perkins V-eligible programs of study. If you're evaluating whether a specific program could qualify in your state, we can help you work through the approval requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Perkins V a competitive grant?

No. Perkins V is a formula-based entitlement program. States receive allocations based on population and poverty data, and distribute at least 85% to local education agencies. Your district receives a share automatically — no competitive application is required, though you must submit a Local Application and complete the CLNA every two years.

Do community colleges also receive Perkins V funding?

Yes. Perkins V has two components: secondary (high school) and postsecondary (community colleges and technical schools). The same formula-based structure applies at both levels. Each state determines how it splits the allocation between secondary and postsecondary recipients.

What happens if my CTE programs aren't state-approved?

If your programs are not part of a recognized, state-approved Program of Study, your district may not qualify for its share of the state's Perkins V allocation. State approval is the prerequisite for Perkins V eligibility at the local level. Contact your state CTE agency to understand the approval process and timeline.

How is Perkins V different from the Carl Perkins Act?

Perkins V is the current Carl Perkins Act — it is the fifth reauthorization of the original Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984. The full name is the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, signed in 2018. When people say "Carl Perkins Act," "Perkins V," or "Perkins funding," they are all referring to the same law.

When does Perkins V expire?

The current Perkins V authorization runs through FY2024. Congress has continued CTE funding through the annual appropriations process. Check OCTAE at cte.ed.gov for the current authorization status and appropriated funding levels.

Last updated: April 2026. Sources: U.S. Department of Education OCTAE (cte.ed.gov), Advance CTE (careertech.org), U.S. Congress (congress.gov, P.L. 115-224).