Perkins V Funding for CTE Programs
The complete guide for CTE directors and Perkins V coordinators. Section 135 allowable uses, CLNA requirements, budget justification templates, and how to fund Wayground through federal CTE dollars.
What Is Perkins V?
Perkins V — the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act — was signed into law July 31, 2018, reauthorizing the Carl D. Perkins CTE Act. It continues Congress's commitment to preparing students for high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand occupations.
- Nearly $1.4 billion in annual federal funding distributed to states and local recipients
- The CLNA — a new data-driven needs assessment required every two years
- Emphasis on programs of study aligned to in-demand industry sectors
- Accountability indicators including technical skill attainment and credential attainment
- Special populations provisions for equitable access for students with disabilities, ELLs, and economically disadvantaged students
"Under Perkins V Section 135, local funds may be used to develop, coordinate, implement, or improve career and technical education programs to meet the needs identified in the Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA). Allowable uses include purchasing CTE assessment tools, certification prep platforms, instructional technology, and professional development — provided that expenditures supplement and do not supplant existing non-federal funds, are tied to approved CTE programs of study, and address needs documented in the CLNA."
Perkins V Section 135 — Allowable Uses of Funds
How Perkins V Funding Flows
Understanding the path from federal appropriation to your classroom budget.
Federal Allocation
Congress appropriates Perkins V funds annually (~$1.4B). Funding is formula-based, not competitive.
State Distribution
Each state receives a formula-based allocation and develops a state plan for how funds will be distributed and used.
Local Allocation
States distribute funds to eligible recipients — school districts, career and technical centers — based on enrollment and poverty formulas.
Local Application
Districts submit a local application based on their CLNA, detailing how they will use funds to address identified needs.
Implementation
Approved expenditures are made in accordance with the local application, CLNA, and 2 CFR 200 cost principles.
Section 135: What You Can Fund
Section 135 defines allowable uses of local Perkins V funds — split into required and permissible uses.
What Local Funds Must Support
- Career exploration and development activities through organized frameworks
- Professional development for CTE teachers, administrators, counselors, and support personnel
- Skills for high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors
- Integration of academic skills meeting secondary or postsecondary standards
Specific Eligible Expenditures
- Assessment tools and cert prep platforms — technology that develops, improves, or expands CTE programs
- Industry-recognized certifications — exam fees and prep materials aligned to programs of study
- Instructional equipment — CTE-specific classroom equipment
- Curriculum development — resources for developing effective CTE curricula
- Work-based learning — support for WBL opportunities
- Special populations support — reducing out-of-pocket costs for underserved students
The CLNA: Your Spending Roadmap
The Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment is not just a compliance requirement — it is the foundation of all Perkins V spending decisions. Every purchase must connect back to a need identified in your CLNA.
If your CLNA identifies low technical skill attainment in IT pathways, that is your justification for purchasing certification prep tools that address that gap.
Read the CLNA Guide →Your CLNA Must Address These 6 Areas
- Labor market alignment — How your programs align to in-demand industry sectors
- Student performance — Analysis of CTE outcomes by program and population
- Program quality — Credential attainment and assessment data
- Educator recruitment and retention — CTE teacher pipeline challenges
- Progress toward equity — Special populations access and success in CTE
- Size, scope, and quality — Whether programs meet state-defined standards
Perkins V Performance Indicators
Your Perkins V spending should directly support improvement on these federally required indicators.
| Indicator | What It Measures | How Assessment Tools Help |
|---|---|---|
| 1S1/2S1 Postsecondary Placement |
Employment, education, or military placement after CTE completion | Better-prepared students place into careers and postsecondary programs at higher rates |
| 2S1/2S2 Credential Attainment |
Industry-recognized credential or postsecondary certificate attainment | Certification prep tools directly increase credential pass rates |
| 3S1 Technical Skill Attainment |
Proficiency on technical skill assessments | Assessment tools measure and improve technical skills continuously |
| 4S1 Graduation Rate |
CTE concentrator graduation rate | Students with clear credential goals engage more and graduate at higher rates |
| 5S1/5S2 Nontraditional Enrollment |
Gender equity in CTE programs | Accessible, accommodated tools support broader participation in all pathways |
How Wayground Qualifies as a Perkins V Allowable Expenditure
To qualify under Perkins V, a tool must be tied to an approved program of study, address a CLNA-identified need, supplement (not supplant) existing non-federal funding, be available to all eligible participants, and be reasonable and necessary per 2 CFR 200.
Wayground CTE meets every criterion.
- Tied to programs of study — Cert prep content mapped to CTE standards across 8 states
- Addresses CLNA needs — Readiness reporting provides data to identify and document skill gaps
- Supplements, does not supplant — Adds CTE certification prep not available in existing locally funded tools
- Available to all participants — School and district licenses provide access to all CTE students
- Reasonable and necessary — Directly supports technical skill attainment and credential attainment indicators
- ESSA Tier III evidence base — Research backing strengthens procurement justification
Writing Your Budget Justification
A strong Perkins V budget justification connects every dollar to your CLNA, programs of study, and performance indicators.
CLNA Reference
Cite the specific finding in your CLNA that this purchase addresses. Example: "Our CLNA identified a 34% gap in IT technical skill attainment among CTE concentrators."
Program Alignment
Name the specific CTE programs of study that will use the tool, matched to your approved local plan.
Performance Indicator Connection
Explain which Perkins V performance indicators the tool supports — primarily technical skill attainment (3S1) and credential attainment (2S1/2S2).
Student Impact
Describe how many students will benefit, in which career pathways, and what outcome improvement you project.
Supplement-Not-Supplant Documentation
Explain why this is a new or expanded capability — not a replacement of existing locally funded resources — and what you would not have purchased without Perkins V.
Key Rules to Remember
Three compliance pillars every Perkins V coordinator must understand.
Supplement, Not Supplant
Perkins V funds must add to, not replace, non-federal funds. You cannot use Perkins V to pay for something previously funded with local or state dollars. The tool must represent a new, improved, or expanded CTE capability.
The 5% Administrative Cap
No more than 5% of your Perkins V local allocation may be used for administrative purposes. Assessment tools and instructional technology are program expenditures — they do not count toward this cap.
2 CFR 200 Cost Principles
All expenditures must be reasonable (a prudent person would agree), necessary (essential for CTE program operation), allocable (directly attributed to CTE), and documented (proper records exist).
Wayground Is Eligible for Multiple Funding Sources
Not just Perkins V — Wayground qualifies under several federal and state funding streams.
Perkins V Resource Library
Deep-dive guides for every aspect of CTE funding compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. CTE assessment tools and certification prep platforms are allowable under Perkins V Section 135 as technology that develops, improves, or expands CTE programs. The purchase must be tied to an approved program of study, address a CLNA-identified need, and supplement existing non-federal funding.
The Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment is a data-driven analysis of your CTE programs' strengths and gaps. Perkins V requires it to be updated at least every two years. It must address labor market alignment, student performance, program quality, educator pipeline, equity, and program size/scope/quality.
Yes. Third-party certification exams that are part of an approved CTE program of study are allowable. The certifications must be available to all eligible program participants and must facilitate learning outcomes.
Perkins V funds must add to, not replace, existing non-federal funding for CTE. You cannot use Perkins V to pay for something you previously funded with local or state money. The expenditure must represent a new, improved, or expanded CTE capability.
Yes. Wayground CTE is a standards-aligned certification prep and assessment platform that supports technical skill attainment and credential attainment — two core Perkins V performance indicators. It is ESSA Tier III evidence-based, maps to state CTE standards in 8 states, and provides readiness reporting that supports CLNA documentation.
Ready to Fund CTE That Works?
Wayground is Perkins V allowable, ESSA Tier III evidence-based, and already in 90% of U.S. schools. See how it fits your program — and your budget.