Image Credit: Tennessee Department of Education
Press Release –
The Tennessee Department of Education announced $2.9 million in Perkins Reserve Grants to 44 school districts for the 2022-23 school year to support career and technical education (CTE) across the state.
The Perkins Reserve Grant (PRG) is a competitive grant opportunity made possible through the federal Perkins V legislation passed in 2018. In 2020, the PRG grant opportunity was redesigned under the four-year Strengthening Career and Technical Education in Tennessee state plan to foster local innovation and support implementation of CTE programs and career pathways, especially in more rural areas, aligned with regionally identified high skill, high wage, and/or in-demand occupations or industries.
During the month of July, the department is celebrating Innovative School Models, which are aligned to the programs funded through the Perkins Reserve Grant Awards by eliminating structural barriers that exist between middle and high school, workforce, and postsecondary opportunities. These models allow students the ability to seamlessly make connections earlier and graduate high school prepared to successfully complete a postsecondary credential or excel in a career pathway of their choice.
“Across the state, districts are focusing on innovating in career and technical education to boost student readiness and access to postsecondary opportunities, and the Perkins Reserve Grant awards help support this important work,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “These grant awards provide avenues to build upon and create partnerships between districts, schools and community organizations to expand innovative CTE opportunities for all students.”
Districts are eligible to apply for a Secondary Grant and/or Regional Career Pathways Grant, which are included in the Perkins Reserve Grant funds provided to states. The 44 Tennessee school districts receiving a 2022-23 Perkins Reserve Grant award are:
Alcoa City Schools
$12,710
Breaking down barriers to increase industry certification attainment
Alvin C. York Institute
$50,000
Modernizing school farm equipment to mirror post-secondary and workforce equipment
Bartlett City Schools
$164,000
Providing STEM pathways in coding, cyber security, drones, engineering design, and robotics
Bedford County Schools
$98,951
Establishing a new, innovative cosmetology learning salon at Community High School
Setting up a new special program of study in Aviation Maintenance at Shelbyville Central High School
Bledsoe County Schools
$15,790
Increasing valuable in demand industry certifications
Bristol City Schools
$50,000.00
Adding new programs of study in agriculture, collision repair, and mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) to expand opportunities for all students
Cannon County Schools
$50,000.00
Innovative STEM cross-curricular workspace
Carter County Schools
$25,500
Modernizing welding pathways with industry standard equipment and advancing early postsecondary opportunities (EPSO) opportunities
Cocke County Schools
$49,599
Investing in work-based learning partnerships and increasing work experience opportunities for students
DeKalb County Schools
$48,950
Introducing a new mechatronics technology program of study
Fentress County Schools
$44,000
Middle school to high school career exploration and expansion of EPSOs
Grainger County Schools
$50,000
Investing in grades 6-12 career exploration through a district career coach
Greene County Schools
$50,000
Extension of engineering program of study to provide curriculum and industry certifications
Hamblen County Schools
$50,000
New culinary arts program of study equipment
Hardin County Schools
$187,200
Investing in air quality for welding students with new state of the art welding booths
Hawkins County Schools
$19,500
School based enterprise providing wireless internet service to eliminate barriers to student success
Houston County Schools
$50,000
Increasing work-based learning opportunities through school-based enterprises
Huntingdon Special School District
$49,983
Environmental Learning Lab for more interactive engagement
Jackson County Schools
$32,608.95
Investment into advanced manufacturing equipment and EPSOs
Jefferson County Schools
$50,000
Conversion to a new industrial maintenance program of study
Johnson City Schools
$45,000
Creating a new School Based Enterprise, “Mercantile Store and Café”
Kingsport City Schools
$90,000
Increasing EPSOs through new advanced manufacturing equipment and industry certification opportunities
Lewis County Schools
$50,000
Drone technology and industry certifications for multiple programs of study
Macon County Schools
$49,946
Optimizing alignment of industry certifications and high wage, in demand, and high skilled programs of study and career pathways
McMinn County Schools
$49,460
Meeting regional postsecondary and industry needs through enhanced advanced manufacturing programs of study
McNairy County Schools
$50,000
$159,271
Expanding opportunities in automotive maintenance, light repair
Expanding opportunities in advanced manufacturing and EPSOs
Meigs County Schools
$135,692
Developing and implementing a new mechatronics program of study
Milan Special School District
$50,000
Creation of a STEM makerspace for project-based learning opportunities
Oak Ridge Schools
$50,000
Expanding EPSO opportunities through post-secondary partnerships in welding
Obion County Schools
$28,802
Transitioning to a new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing program of study
Perry County Schools
$31,883.37
Increasing health science opportunities by adding a new emergency services program of study
Putnam County Schools
$40,000
$150,000
Increasing industry certification opportunities in all high wage, high skilled, and in demand programs of study
Creation of a new mobile career exploration lab, “JACEE, Jobs and Career Exploration for Everyone”
Rutherford County Schools
$50,000
New audio-visual program of study and providing Informational technology industry certifications to students
Sequatchie County Schools
$48,263.20
New equipment for Construction Lab to improve career exploration opportunities and increase industry certifications
South Carroll Special School District
$25,495
Implementation of a new STEM program of study
Sullivan County Schools
$34,475
Providing curriculum to create pre-apprenticeship opportunities
Tipton County Schools
$50,000.00
$200,000
Strengthening the Food Science Pathway with the implementation of a Food Science Lab
Creation of the “Farm Fresh Center”, a marketing and distribution center for multiple programs of study
Trenton Special School District
$50,000.00
School Based Enterprise, “STEMsthetics,” implementation
Tullahoma City Schools
$65,076.50
Expansion of welding program of study to increase postsecondary and career pathway opportunities
Van Buren County Schools
$2,975
Increasing opportunities in industry certification attainment
Warren County Schools
$50,000.00
Expanding career exploration in grades 5-8 and 10-12 to increase EPSO opportunities
Wayne County Schools
$133,000
Career coach to develop and increase partnerships between postsecondary and Work Based Learning opportunities
White County Schools
$39,437.58
Students Today . . . . . Teachers Tomorrow, innovative teaching as a Profession lab and increased industry certification attainment
Wilson County Schools
$30,800
Enhancing the Emergency Medical Responder program of study with equipment and new EPSO opportunities
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This year’s Perkins Reserve Grant recipients submitted applications for programs, initiatives, and strategies that help to foster innovation by identifying and promoting CTE programs, practices, and strategies to prepare individuals for nontraditional fields. Some applicants sought funding to provide drone technology and industry credentials for multiple programs, new culinary arts equipment for students, and a STEM makerspace for project-based opportunities. Other applicants focused on creating a school-based enterprise offering wireless internet service to eliminate barriers to student success and modernizing welding with industry standard equipment.
Applications were reviewed by a team of TDOE staff from the Division of College, Career and Technical Education. All applications needed to address at least one of the state plan’s priority areas—ensuring equitable access, aligning career pathways, and/or ensuring high-quality learning experiences. The Regional Career Pathways application also needed to include a regionally focused secondary and postsecondary or workforce partnership.
More information on the Perkins Reserve Grant may be found here.
