Cannon County Schools Receives $50k
WOODBURY: 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” (opens link in new tab) 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,” (opens link in new tab) 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 post-secondary opportunities. These models allow students the ability to seamlessly make connections earlier and graduate high school prepared to successfully complete a post-secondary 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 post-secondary 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.”
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 maker space 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 post-secondary or workforce partnership.
“Cannon County Schools is fortunate to be a recipient of the Perkins Reserve Grant for the 2022-23 school year in the amount of $50,000,” said Crystal Kennedy, Career and Technical Education Director Cannon County Schools. “These funds will enable us to expand the Career Exploration course at Cannon County Middle School as well as increase the Work Based Learning opportunities, industry credentials, and internship placements for high school students. A collaborative workspace will also be created at Cannon County High School for student participation in cross-curricular, project based activities allowing for higher-level learning opportunities across multiple disciplines.”
More information on the Perkins Reserve Grant may be found here (opens link in new tab).
For Tennessee Department of Education media inquiries, contact Edu.MediaInquiries@tn.gov.
For local media inquiries, contact William Freddy Curtis, Director of Cannon County Schools, at (629) 201-4801, ext. 10101, or at williamf.curtis@ccstn.net for local Cannon County Schools information.