The Perkins Grant – A Little Known Funding Option

When it comes to removing barriers standing in the way of Deaf students pursuing post-secondary education at Hearing institutions including technical schools, an incredible amount of progress has been made.

Over the past 50 years, the implementation of a large number of programs and an increase in dedicated resources have provided a level of accessibility most Deaf people never dreamed possible.

Yet there are still issues to be addressed and often times, a potential advance falls by the wayside for a simple but understandable reason: the lack of financial means.

It is for this very reason that in 2002, the federal government passed the Carl D. Perkins Act, which led to the creation of the Perkins Grant.

This grant was developed to provide funds to postsecondary institutions, preparing students to be more competitive in the world economy but sadly, though the Perkins Grant has been available for over a decade, it remains relatively unknown by those who stand to benefit from it the most.

Because of this, we want to provide you with relevant information in the hopes of removing yet another obstacle standing in the way of Deaf students receiving the type of career training they need.

Ideally, this information encourages you to further investigate the many benefits of The Perkins Grant.

Basic Information

Federal funds are made available to develop more fully the academic, career, and technical skills of secondary and postsecondary students who elect to enroll in CTE programs.

To be eligible for a sub-grant, an eligible recipient must operate a vocational and technical education program that:

• Strengthens the academic, vocational, and technical skills of students participating in vocational and technical education programs, achieved by integrating core academic subjects into vocational and technical education programs through a coherent sequence of courses;
• Develops, improves, or expands the use of technology in vocational and technical education;

Additional Information

• State grants help State and local schools offer programs to develop the academic, vocational and technical skills of students in high schools, community colleges, and regional technical centers.
• Funds from this program can be used for a broad range of programs, services, and activities designed to improve career–technical education programs and ensure access to students who are members of populations with special needs.
• Using Perkins Grant funds can offset the cost of both VRI equipment and interpreting services provided through VRI.

As you can see, The Perkins Grant is a tremendous opportunity for those who qualify.

For more information on how to request Perkins funds, contact the Grants Manager at your institution.