The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) brings a new opportunity for states to examine what access to high-quality Career Technical Education (CTE) looks like in rural areas and develop strategies to address challenges to delivering CTE in rural areas. Perkins V also continues to provide states with the flexibility to leverage the reserve fund to support CTE in rural communities. The reserve fund is an option available to states to distribute funds to local eligible recipients of Perkins funds (e.g., local school districts, area CTE centers, community colleges, etc.) through an alternative method (which could be by formula, competition, a combination, etc.).
In Perkins V, the allowable reserve fund was increased from 10 percent to 15 percent (i.e., up to 15 percent of the 85 percent of Perkins funds that must be distributed to local recipients can be distributed through an alternative method) and must be used in areas with high numbers or percentages of CTE students, or rural communities, or areas with disparities or gaps in performance among population groups. While these funds are flexible, they must be directed to spurring innovation or supporting programs of study. How can states use the new opportunity that Perkins V brings to expand access to high-quality CTE in rural communities? Check out the resources below to learn more.
BRIEF: CTE on the Frontier: Catalyzing Local Efforts to Improve Program Quality: This brief from Advance CTE explores state strategies to improve the quality of local CTE programs to ensure they meet industry needs and expand opportunities for rural learners. The brief highlights different approaches state leaders can take to empower local leaders and support program improvement in rural areas.
BRIEF: CTE on the Frontier: Connecting Rural Learners with the World of Work: This brief from Advance CTE explores how states have identified ways to bring the physical experience of work-based learning and employer engagement directly to learners through simulated workplace experiences, innovative satellite campuses and mobile labs.
BRIEF: CTE on the Frontier: Providing Learners Access to Diverse Career Pathways: This brief from Advance CTE is designed to help states identify promising strategies for expanding the variety of career pathways available in rural areas. The brief profiles how states have leveraged strategic partnerships and new technologies to reach economies of scale and offer a wider breadth of career pathways to rural learners.
BRIEF: CTE on the Frontier: Strengthening the Rural CTE Teacher Pipeline: This brief from Advance CTE examines challenges and strategies for expanding access to high-quality career pathways in rural areas and addresses one of the most pressing challenges rural schools and institutions face: strengthening the pipeline of qualified CTE teachers and faculty.
MORE RESOURCES
- Webinar: CTE on the Frontier: Lessons and Strategies for Reaching Rural Learners (and slides): This webinar unpacks key lessons and strategies from the CTE on the Frontier series and provides a framework for state leaders to develop a comprehensive rural career readiness strategy.
- CTE on the Frontier: Rural CTE Strategy Guide: This guide offers a series of questions for state leaders to use as they reflect on current efforts to expand access to high-quality CTE in rural communities and to identify future opportunities and actions.
- Facilitation Guide: This guide was designed as a companion to the CTE on the Frontier: Rural CTE Strategy Guide to help state leaders make the most of this resource and to support states’ efforts to address the five cross-cutting elements of a rural CTE strategy.
Looking for additional resources? Please be sure to check out the Learning that Works Resource Center.