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Board hears Perkins V update, approves WTED community college plans for workforce training
Summary
The State Board received a briefing on Perkins V accountability and Iowa career/technical education priorities and approved the Workforce Training and Economic Development (WTED) fund reports and FY25 plans submitted by community colleges.
The State Board of Education on Feb. 11 received an overview of Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Iowa and the federal Perkins V program and approved the annual Workforce Training and Economic Development (WTED) progress report and FY25 plans submitted by Iowa's community colleges.
Department staff described how Perkins V funding supports career-focused programming at both the secondary and postsecondary levels, noted the rise of computer science and IT pathways and outlined accountability indicators that will guide the state plan, including a new indicator tracking industry-recognized credentials at the secondary level. Staff said Iowa—s Perkins allocation for FY25 was roughly $14 million and that roughly half of that total is distributed to high schools and half to community colleges; about 3% is reserved for state-level strategic projects.
The board approved the WTED report and FY25 plans, which outline how community colleges plan to allocate state WTED funds toward targeted clusters (advanced manufacturing, IT/insurance, renewable energy, life sciences) and career academies. The FY24 progress report included figures showing that advanced manufacturing and nursing accounted for 57% of program areas funded, that more than 80,000 participants were involved in WTED-funded activities in FY24, and that colleges worked with more than 2,700 businesses. The FY25 plans anticipate about 76,000 participants and continued emphasis on the same target clusters.
Why it matters: WTED funds are a state-directed resource that supports college-level workforce training and aligns with Perkins priorities; the board—s approval clears the community colleges— plans to proceed and makes that planning public.
Board members asked how Perkins and state reserves are used and whether reserves could fund professional development, industry-recognized credential (IRC) work or other initiatives. Staff explained the 3% state reserve can be used for strategic projects and said the department has directed past reserve funds toward concurrent enrollment opportunities, credentials-to-careers grants and child-care credentialing efforts. Staff explained Perkins funding is generally for credit-bearing programming at community colleges, while other funding sources cover noncredit training.
The board approved the WTED report and plan and asked staff to continue coordinating Perkins state-plan stakeholder input and the public comment period scheduled from mid-March to mid-April; the department will finalize the Perkins state plan and submit it to the U.S. Department of Education before the May 31 deadline.
Speakers quoted or on the record: Heather Meissen (Administrative Consultant, Bureau of CTE), Cale Hutchings (Applied Science / Technology consultant).
