Contract Open

National Evaluation of Career and Technical Education under Perkins V (NECTEP)

NCEE

Program: Perkins Act

Award amount: $4,036,570

Awardee:

American Institutes for Research (AIR)

Year: 2019

Duration: 7 years 2 months (09/01/2019 - 11/23/2026)

Project type:

Other

Contract number: 91990019D0002

Background

Even with constant change in the nature of work and the economy, the education decisions students make today will influence their later career direction and success. Helping secondary and postsecondary students develop skills that have value in the workplace is the key goal of career and technical education (CTE). Congress has supported CTE for over a century, most recently through the reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act in 2018 (Perkins V). Many provisions of the prior Perkins Act remain, but Perkins V includes some changes designed to: (1) expand access to and participation in CTE for all students, including students in underrepresented groups, (2) enhance CTE program quality through new mechanisms for program improvement and labor market alignment, and (3) increase flexibility in Perkins funding and accountability. Perkins V requires IES to conduct a national evaluation to assess CTE programs under the new law. This study examines how key priorities in Perkins V are being implemented by states and districts.

Project Activities

Research question

To what extent are states and districts taking steps to expand access to and encourage greater participation in career and technical education as intended by Perkins V, including for underserved students?
To what extent are states and districts using the new mechanisms for improvement and alignment emphasized in Perkins V to improve CTE program quality?
To what extent are states and districts taking advantage of the funding and accountability flexibilities in Perkins V that are intended to address their specific needs and priorities?

Structured Abstract

Design

National data were collected in fall 2023 to spring 2024. These data included surveys of all state coordinators of CTE and a nationally representative sample of 850 districts through their CTE district coordinators. Information from the surveys will provide a snapshot of Perkins V implementation in program year 2022–23.

Key findings

Most states and districts sponsored activities to expand CTE access and participation, but these efforts were typically not among their highest priorities for CTE.
States and districts widely implemented Perkins V mechanisms to improve CTE program quality and strengthen alignment with labor market needs, but Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment requirements sometimes limited district implementation.
Most states used funding flexibilities to support local priorities, but fewer used accountability flexibilities, such as adopting multiple program quality indicators.