Perkins V Funding: Invest in Students and Communities

Across education and workforce programs, many leaders face the same frustrating reality. You see the needs in your community every day: students who deserve better pathways, programs stretched thin, and opportunities slipping through the cracks. You know Perkins V funding could help, but between competing priorities, limited staff, and the sheer complexity of grant applications, turning that possibility into reality can feel overwhelming.

You're not alone in this. ERI Grants exists because we understand how exhausting it is to chase funding while doing the important daily work of serving learners. We partner with schools, colleges, workforce organizations, and nonprofits who believe in what career and technical education can do, and who need a collaborator, not just a consultant.

In this guide, we'll walk alongside you through how Perkins V funding works, who qualifies, what costs are covered, and how to build a proposal that reflects both your vision and what funders need to see. We'll also share how our contingency-based model removes the financial risk, so organizations with limited budgets can pursue funding without the stress of upfront costs.

How Perkins V Can Transform Your Funding Future

Perkins V funding is a major source of support for career and technical education. It shapes how states and local recipients plan programs, partner with employers, and target resources for learners.

What Perkins V Is And How It Differs From Perkins IV

Perkins V is the current federal law for career and technical education funding. It continues the core focus on strong academic, technical, and employability skills, but it changes how recipients plan and report.

Under Perkins IV, many local recipients treated planning as a one time or routine task. Perkins V places planning at the center of the grant. A structured Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment now drives decisions about programs, staffing, partnerships, and budgets.

Perkins V also:

• Gives states more room to set their own performance levels in consultation with stakeholders.

• Streamlines performance indicators so recipients can focus on clear results instead of long lists of measures.

• Expands the definition of special populations and calls for deeper attention to equity.

• Calls for stronger local input from employers, workforce boards, and community partners.

In simple terms, Perkins V funding expects you to show that your CTE programs match actual labor market needs, serve learners who face barriers, and use data to improve over time.

Key Goals Of Perkins V: Equity, Alignment, And Outcomes

Perkins V sets clear goals that affect how you plan and write your grant application.

Equity Perkins V calls for fair access and success for learners who face poverty, discrimination, disability, language barriers, housing insecurity, or other obstacles. Your plan needs to show how you identify gaps and remove barriers.

Alignment Programs must align with labor market demand and career pathways that lead to quality careers. Funders look for evidence that your programs of study reflect real jobs, industry input, and recognized credentials.

Outcomes Perkins V ties funding to measurable results. Your proposal should connect planned activities to specific outcomes such as program completion, credential attainment, and successful transitions into work or further education.

At ERI, we build these goals into every narrative. We help you explain how your CTE strategy advances equity, aligns with workforce demand, and leads to stronger outcomes for students and adult learners.

Who Is Eligible For Perkins V Funding?

Perkins V funding flows from federal to state to local recipients. Understanding eligibility is essential before investing time in a proposal.

Eligible Institutions And Programs

Most recipients are state-approved CTE providers, including:

• School districts with CTE programs or regional career centers

• Community and technical colleges with approved CTE programs

• Consortia of small districts pooling resources

• Some tribal or specialized education providers

Programs must meet your state's CTE program definition—typically a structured course sequence leading to a recognized credential in a specific occupation. Perkins V supports CTE programs in fields like health care, IT, manufacturing, and construction, not general education.

Required Stakeholders And Partnerships

Perkins V requires strong stakeholder engagement in your Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment and planning. Required partners typically include:

• Employers and industry representatives

• Local workforce boards

• Secondary and postsecondary CTE leaders

• Representatives for special populations

• Agencies serving out-of-school youth and underemployed adults

These partners help confirm labor market demand, review programs, and identify barriers for specific groups.

Allowable Uses Of Perkins V Funds

Perkins V has clear rules about fundable activities. Every dollar must connect to program quality, alignment, or equity.

High-Impact Investments Perkins V Supports

Common allowable uses include:

• Modern equipment reflecting current industry standards

• Curriculum updates integrating technical, academic, and employability skills

• Professional development for CTE instructors

• Secondary-postsecondary pathway alignment and dual enrollment

• Work-based learning coordination (internships, apprenticeships, clinicals)

• Targeted supports for special populations

• Data systems and continuous improvement activities

Expenses That Typically Do Not Qualify

Expenses that rarely meet Perkins V rules include:

• General operating costs unconnected to CTE improvement

• Broad facility maintenance not driven by CTE needs

• Staff positions already funded through other sources

• General education activities without CTE connections

• Costs that replace existing state or local obligations (supplanting)

Core Requirements You Must Address in a Perkins V Grant

Strong Perkins V funding proposals respond to several core requirements. Funders look for clear evidence that you've done your homework and built a realistic plan.

Your application must draw directly from your Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA), connecting each activity and budget line to identified needs. This assessment reviews student performance data, program quality, labor market alignment, educator development, and barriers facing special populations.

Perkins V uses core performance indicators tracking academic achievement, program completion, credential attainment, and job placement. Your proposal should explain how activities will influence these metrics.

Funders also expect strong attention to equity gaps. Identify underrepresented groups, analyze disparities, describe barriers, and propose concrete supports like targeted outreach, adaptive tools, and community partnerships.

How To Plan And Write A Strong Perkins V Proposal

A winning proposal starts with alignment. When your project reflects state priorities and builds on regional momentum, reviewers see a partner ready to move career and technical education forward.

From there, data tells the story. The strongest applications turn CLNA findings into clear narratives, showing needs, highlighting opportunities, and connecting solutions to measurable outcomes.

Finally, every element must work together. Objectives should be specific and time-bound. Activities should drive real progress. Budgets should reflect both ambition and accountability.

When alignment, narrative, and planning come together, your proposal does more than request funding. It demonstrates your capacity to lead meaningful change in your community.

Common Mistakes And How To Strengthen Your Application

Weak Needs Statements And Misaligned Activities

Applicants often rely on general claims without clear data. To strengthen your case:

• Use specific CLNA data to describe gaps.

• Show where programs fall short in meeting labor market demand.

• Connect each activity to a defined need and outcome.

Another issue is requesting equipment that doesn't match approved programs or regional job demand. We help clients cross-check investments against program goals and state guidance.

Insufficient Stakeholder Engagement And Sustainability Planning

Some applications mention partners but don't show their involvement. Strengthen your application by:

• Describing how employers shaped your programs of study.

• Including letters confirming ongoing collaboration.

Sustainability matters too. We help you blend local funds, Perkins V funding, and other grants so successful strategies continue over time.

Maximize Perkins V Opportunities

Perkins V funding offers real opportunity, but the planning and writing process can be demanding. That's where ERI Grants comes in.

Partner With ERI Grants

At ERI Grants, we specialize in contingency-based grant writing—you pay nothing upfront and only pay if your grant is awarded. This eliminates financial risk for underfunded organizations while providing access to expert support.

We bring a high success rate and deep experience across education, workforce, health, and social service grants. Our team handles the full grant lifecycle, from pre-award planning through post-award compliance.

Whether you're facing tight deadlines, managing complex partnerships, or addressing equity gaps, we provide the expertise you need to compete confidently.

Learn more on our about page or meet our team.

Braiding Perkins V With Other Funding

Many clients work with us to braid Perkins V with state CTE grants, workforce funds, and other sources to build stronger pathways. The key is clear documentation showing each fund supports a distinct purpose. We help map activities across grants so reviewers see one coherent strategy—not separate projects.

Conclusion

Perkins V funding gives education and workforce leaders a structured way to strengthen career and technical education. It rewards clear needs assessments, genuine partnerships, equity focused strategies, and measurable results.

We know many organizations have strong ideas but limited staff time to plan, write, and manage grants. That is why we focus on practical support, contingency based grant writing, and long term partnership. Our goal is simple. We help you turn your vision for students and communities into funded, sustainable programs.

If you are ready to pursue Perkins V funding or want to review your current plan, we are here to help. Contact us so we can build CTE programs that give every learner a real path to success and help your organization grow its impact.

Perkins V Funding: Frequently Asked Questions

What is Perkins V funding and how does it support career and technical education (CTE)?

Perkins V funding is the current federal funding stream for career and technical education. It helps states and local recipients improve CTE programs by supporting modern equipment, updated curricula, work-based learning, pathways between secondary and postsecondary education, and targeted supports to boost equity, credential attainment, and student outcomes.

Who is eligible to receive Perkins V funding?

Perkins V funding typically goes to state-approved CTE providers such as school districts, regional career centers, community and technical colleges, consortia of small districts, and some tribal or specialized education providers. Funded programs must meet your state’s definition of a CTE program of study leading to recognized credentials and careers.

What can Perkins V funds be used for, and what expenses are usually not allowed?

Perkins V funds can support industry-standard equipment, curriculum updates, professional development, work-based learning coordination, data systems, and targeted supports for special populations. They generally cannot cover broad operating costs, routine facility maintenance, existing staff salaries, general education activities, or expenses that replace required state or local funding (supplanting).

How do I build a strong Perkins V funding proposal?

A strong Perkins V proposal starts with a solid Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment, then uses that data to define clear needs, measurable objectives, aligned activities, and a realistic budget. You should show labor market alignment, address equity gaps, engage stakeholders, and directly connect each cost to outcomes and core performance indicators.

How much Perkins V funding can a local recipient receive?

Perkins V funding amounts vary by state and by local formula. States receive allocations based on federal rules, then distribute funds using factors such as population, poverty levels, and CTE enrollment. Many states set minimum grant amounts for local recipients or consortia, so you’ll need to review your state’s specific allocation formula and guidance.

When should an organization consider using external grant writing support for Perkins V?

External support can help when you face tight deadlines, complex regional partnerships, or significant equity gaps that require strong data and logic models. Grant writing experts like ERI Grants can translate your CLNA into a clear, compliant narrative and budget, often on a contingency basis so underfunded organizations avoid upfront costs.