Each year under the Perkins statute, Congress appropriates $1.4 billion in state formula grant funds under Title I to help students strengthen their academic knowledge, technical skills, and employability through career and technical education (CTE) programs. To receive this funding, each state agency must prepare and submit a Perkins State Plan and, in subsequent years, revisions to that plan for approval by the Secretary of Education.

In December 2024, the U.S. Department of Education released two new information collections requiring state and local CTE providers to revise their Perkins V State Plans outside of the traditional five-year process and meet additional reporting requirements as part of their Consolidated Annual Reports. The CTE community raised concerns about the short turnaround and added administrative burden, and by February 2025, the Department reversed the additional regulatory reporting guidelines.

Even with that reversal, the pressure to demonstrate measurable results under Perkins V remains high. Perkins recipients must show that their Career Connections programs produce strong outcomes, including:

• Deep knowledge in a particular career field
• Opportunities for students to earn industry-recognized and safety credentials
• Work-based learning experiences tied to real-world career paths

Programs must also ensure equal access to enrollment and meet 11 required criteria such as providing technical skill proficiency, creating secondary-to-postsecondary linkages, meeting performance targets for core indicators, and aligning to current labor market demand.

How States Are Allocating Perkins Funds

Funding allocations continue to vary widely across the country.

• New York: In 2025, New York schools allocated $2,855,506 to 674 schools.
• California: California allocated $51,802,686 to unified and union high school districts, $2,818,330 for adult schools and Regional Occupational Centers and Programs (ROCPs), $1,229,931 to six ROCP consortia, and $475,000 to three state institutions, including Corrections and State Special Schools.
• Iowa: Iowa voted to approve its 2025-2029 Perkins V plan which reduces the ratio of allocations to community colleges and K-12 school districts from 53.5% to 46.5%. Allocations are a 60-40 split with K-12 receiving the larger portion.

However, change is on the horizon. The FY26 federal budget proposes a reduction in CTE and Adult Education funding from $2.18 billion to $1.45 billion and emphasizes greater state and local control while consolidating or eliminating over 50 federal education programs.

According to David Taylor, Ed.D. from Framework Consulting, this shift signals that district leaders will need to prepare for increased autonomy and rely on data-driven planning to prioritize interventions. For education technology firms, he adds, this means “pivoting from compliance-driven sales to value-based partnerships.”

What This Means for EdGate Clients

As states begin revising Perkins V plans ahead of the next funding cycle, new or adjusted CTE standards are likely to emerge sooner than expected. Publishers and content developers will need to realign materials quickly to ensure their programs remain relevant and compliant with state goals.

EdGate supports this work by helping content creators and CTE providers:

• Map curriculum to updated CTE and workforce standards
• Crosswalk existing alignments to meet new state plan requirements
• Tag content to industry-recognized credentials and labor market data
• Provide clear evidence of alignment for reporting and performance monitoring

With funding and reporting expectations changing, maintaining accurate and adaptable standards alignment is key.

Contact EdGate learn more about how we can help you stay ahead of CTE and Perkins V updates.