Perkins V Transition Plan

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The Texas Education Agency (TEA) requests public comment on the draft transition plan for the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21^st Century Act, also referred to as Perkins V. 

On July 31, 2018, the President signed Perkins V into law. This law reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.  Perkins V reflects the 100-year federal commitment to CTE by providing federal support for CTE programs and focuses on improving the academic and technical achievement of CTE students, strengthening the connections between secondary and postsecondary education, and improving accountability.

The new law will go into effect on July 1, 2019, and the first year of implementation will be considered a transition year.  States must submit a one-year transition plan in May 2019. Full four-year state plans, covering all the requirements of the Act, will then be submitted in spring 2020 encompassing program years July 1, 2020-June 30, 2024.

Perkins V maintains a focus on CTE program improvement, data, and accountability. Perkins V additionally: 

• Commits to driving improvement through programs of study
• Introduces a comprehensive local needs assessment that requires data-driven decision-making on local spending and involves significant stakeholder consultation
• Lifts the restriction on spending funds below grade 7 and allows support for career exploration in the “middle grades” (which includes grades 5-8)
• Defines who is included in the accountability system by including a formal CTE concentrator definition.

Perkins V Timeline:

• March: State Board of Education posts agenda and Perkins Transition Plan
• April: State Board of Education approval of Perkins Transition Plan sought
• May 2019: Perkins Transition Plan submitted to the Department of Education
• May 2019-October 2019:  Drafting of the Perkins CTE Four Year Plan 

Stakeholders are encouraged to review the draft transition plan and provide comments. The TEA has developed an electronic form to help stakeholders submit public comment. The proposed transition plan and electronic form can be found at the following website: https://tea.texas.gov/cte

The public comment period will open on March 14, 2019 and will close on April 26, 2019. If you have additional questions regarding the public comment process, contact Ryan Merritt at ryan.merritt@tea.texas.gov.