The intent of the Carl D. Perkins Act of 2006 (also known as Perkins iV), is to ensure continuous improvement of career and technical education programs offered at both secondary and post-secondary levels through the development, assessment, and continuous improvement of secondary to postsecondary career pathways or programs of study comprised of academic and career and technical education (CTE) instruction.  The VCCS Workforce Development Services division is responsible for administering Perkins programs at the post-secondary level at all 23 community colleges in VA. 

Population Served

Students enrolled in CTE programs.  Postsecondary programs also support outreach programs such as career coaching and dual-enrollment to high school CTE students enrolled in the secondary component of a secondary to postsecondary career pathway. 

Program Features

In VA, Perkins programs at local colleges align with the definition and goals of career pathways established by the state strategic plan for Virginia’s Career Pathway System, Bridging Business and Education for the 21st Century Workforce.  Each Perkins program administered by the VCCS provides a connected series of education and support services designed to enable participants to secure employment within a specific industry or occupational sector and to advance over time to successively higher levels of education or employment in that sector.  Operating within community college CTE programs, each local Perkins career pathway program is charged to deliver the following: 

• Align education with state and regional workforce needs as defined by employers
• Inform and advise learners about career and training opportunities in key industries
• Issue degrees, certificates, diplomas, and certifications that are meaningful to employers and portable for individuals preparing for changing careers
• Ensure access to postsecondary education by providing learners with career and educational advising, including assistance with college admissions and financial aid
• Utilize and promote articulation agreements that foster smooth transitions for individuals to progress in education and training
• Provide experience-based learning, including cooperative education, internships, service learning, and business-based projects designed to foster employability skills. 

Program Outcomes

In 2007-08, 67,671 students were enrolled in Perkins supported community college degree or certificate programs, and 17,280 students earned degrees or certificates in Perkins programs of study.  College Perkins programs are annually assessed for performance against five federal performance measures.  These are Technical Skills Attainment, Program Completion, Retention and Graduation, Employment and Retention in Employment, and Non-Traditional Gender Participation and Completion. 

Grant Information

Through Perkins (Title I) funding, in the 2008-09 academic year, over $3.2 million was distributed to local community colleges.  Annual grant awards to local colleges range from over half a million dollars to $50,000 based upon the number of Pell award recipients who are also formally enrolled in community college CTE programs. 

Perkins Grants

Resources

Perkins Measures: Numerators and Denominators
Perkins Annual Report
Perkins Performance Measure Results by College
VCCS Career Pathways Definition
16 Career Clusters and Pathways
Perkins/Tech Prep Programs of Study
VCCS Non-Traditional Programs
Student Success Snapshot on Perkins Completion Measure
Workforce Credential Issue Brief

Peer Collaborative Resource Network
National Career Pathways Network

Contacts

Microsoft Elevate America Contact List
Post-Secondary Perkins Contact List