High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher Pathway Initiative
The Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) in the U.S. Department of Education has announced a new $3.6 million grant opportunity to address State and local shortages of high school CTE teachers: the High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher Pathway Initiative. The notice inviting applications was published on June 13, 2017 and is available at the link below:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/06/13/2017-12132/applications-for-new-awards-high-school-career-and-technical-education-teacher-pathway-initiative
Application Deadline: Applications are due July 28, 2017.
Eligible Applicants
Recipients and subrecipients of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins Act) State Grant program are eligible to apply. This includes:
- A State board designated or created consistent with State law as the sole State agency responsible for the administration of CTE in the State or for the supervision of the administration of CTE in the State;
- A local educational agency (LEA) (including a public charter school that operates as an LEA), an area CTE school, an educational service agency, or a consortium of such entities, in each case, that receives assistance under section 131 of the Perkins Act;
- An eligible Institution that receives assistance under section 132 of the Perkins Act.
Funding
Up to $3.6 million will be awarded for one 36-month project period. OCTAE expects to make 5-7 awards in amounts ranging from $350,000 to $900,000 for one 36-month project period. The estimated average size of the awards is $625,000.
Allowable Activities
Grant funds may be used for a wide range of activities to increase the recruitment and retention of high school CTE teachers for CTE programs that align to an In-Demand Industry Sector or Occupation, in States or communities where shortages of such teachers exist, such as—
- Establishing, improving, or expanding activities to recruit high school CTE teachers for CTE programs that align to an In-demand Industry Sector or Occupation;
- Establishing, improving, or expanding alternative routes for State certification of high school CTE teachers for CTE programs that align to an In-Demand Industry Sector or Occupation;
- Establishing, improving, or expanding teacher induction and mentoring programs to improve the preparation and retention of new high school CTE teachers for CTE programs that align to an In-Demand Industry Sector or Occupation;
- Establishing, improving, or expanding local partnerships of community organizations, institutions of higher education, and school districts that support mid-career business and industry professionals, military veterans, parents, students, community members, and paraprofessionals in becoming CTE teachers for CTE programs that align to an In-Demand Industry Sector or Occupation;
- Establishing, improving, or expanding Teacher Residency Programs, as defined in this notice, to recruit and retain high school CTE teachers for CTE programs that align to an In-Demand Industry Sector or Occupation;
- Implementing differential pay, or other financial incentives, such as signing bonuses, student loan repayment, or scholarships, to recruit and retain high school CTE teachers for CTE programs that align to an In-Demand Industry Sector or Occupation;
- Establishing or redesigning teacher preparation programs to better meet the demand for effective high school CTE teachers for CTE programs that align to an In-Demand Industry Sector or Occupation;
- Establishing or expanding interstate teacher certification or licensure reciprocity agreements to enable CTE teachers who are licensed or certified in one State to teach in another State without completing additional licensure or certification requirements in CTE programs that align to an In-Demand Industry Sector or Occupation; and
- Developing and implementing programs and initiatives to remove barriers to recruiting and retaining high school CTE teachers for CTE programs that align to an In-Demand Industry Sector or Occupation.
In-Demand Industry Sector or Occupation
The notice uses the definition of "In-Demand Industry Sector or Occupation" from Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
"In-demand Industry Sector or Occupation" means—
(A)(1) An industry sector that has a substantial current or potential impact (including through jobs that lead to economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) on the State, regional, or local economy, as appropriate, and that contributes to the growth or stability of other supporting businesses, or the growth of other industry sectors; or
(2) An occupation that currently has or is projected to have a number of positions (including positions that lead to economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) in an industry sector so as to have a significant impact on the State, regional, or local economy, as appropriate.
(B) The determination of whether an industry sector or occupation is in-demand under this definition shall be made by the State [workforce investment] board or local [workforce investment] board, as appropriate, using State and regional business and labor market projections, including the use of labor market information.
