Perkins Career and Technical Education Primer: What's New

Overview & Synopsis

On July 31, 2018, President Trump signed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) into law. The law reauthorizes and updates the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) to ensure career and technical education (CTE) programs meet the demands of the twenty-first-century economy. The new law includes several changes and additions relevant for educators, postsecondary institutions, employers, workforce development boards, community-based organizations, and others who serve historically underserved students in both secondary and postsecondary education. Perkins V includes several modifications that align specific provisions, reporting requirements, and definitions of the law with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and, where appropriate, the Every Student Succeeds Act and the Higher Education Act. This fact sheet presents specific changes from Perkins IV that have direct implications on state accountability systems and CTE delivery models.