Iowa board approves revised Perkins state plan, vows further review of funding split

The State Board of Education on June 17 approved Iowa’s four‑year Perkins state plan, which moves the long‑term allocation of federal career and technical education (CTE) funding toward high schools, but the board directed the Department of Education to convene community college and K‑12 partners and return with additional analysis of the allocation by December 2025.

The action comes after public comment from community college leaders and a multiweek public comment process the department said produced “significant” feedback.

Board approval allows the department to submit the state plan to the U.S. Department of Education. The board’s motion included a specific direction that the department hold additional stakeholder meetings on the proposed secondary/postsecondary split and present findings to the board no later than the December 2025 meeting.

Why this matters: Perkins funds support CTE programs, work‑based learning, industry‑recognized credentials and related educator professional development. Community colleges and many rural high schools rely on the funds to run shared programs and purchase specialized equipment; shifting the long‑term split could change how those programs are staffed and delivered.

Key points

- Publi…