Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 160 KB)

Fact Sheet: Word (279 KB) | PDF (413 KB)

The Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) in the U.S. Department of Education has announced a new $3 million grant opportunity to support State efforts to expand and improve the transition of high school CTE students to postsecondary education and employment through apprenticeships in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, including computer science, that begin during high school. The Pathways to STEM Apprenticeship for High School Career and Technical Education Students notice inviting applications was published on May 18, 2018 and is available at the link below:

Federal Register Notice: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/05/18/2018-10671/applications-for-new-awards-pathways-to-stem-apprenticeship-for-high-school-career-and-technical

Application Deadline: Applications are due July 17, 2018.

Eligible Applicants

The following Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act State Grant program eligible entities may apply under this competition:

• 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; or
• A consortium of the above State entities.

Funding

Up to $3 million will be awarded for one 36-month project period. OCTAE expects to make approximately 5 awards in amounts ranging from $500,000 to $750,000 for one 36-month project period. The estimated average size of the awards is $600,000.

Allowable Activities

Grant funds may be used for a wide range of activities to carry out a comprehensive grant strategy that seeks to increase the number of CTE students who participate in competency-based apprenticeships while enrolled in high school, such as—

• Providing technical assistance to entities such as LEAs, postsecondary educational institutions, and employers;
• Coordinating State-level or multi-State-level efforts to expand competency-based apprenticeship opportunities for high school CTE students, such as through coordination with other entities, such as a State apprenticeship agency, or with industry and labor organizations and businesses to develop competency-based apprenticeship programming in new sectors or industries;
• Developing or supporting the development of curricula that can be used for the related CTE instruction component of competency-based apprenticeship programs;
• Providing support for professional development for teachers, postsecondary instructors, employers, training providers, and others to promote the development and implementation of new competency-based apprenticeship opportunities;
• Supporting the development and implementation of articulation agreements and other processes to award postsecondary credit for the completion of CTE courses and competency-based apprenticeship programs, such as dual credit and transcripted credit;
• Providing information about competency-based apprenticeship opportunities to the public, including to students and their families;
• Providing subgrants to LEAs and postsecondary educational institutions to assist in creating or expanding opportunities for CTE students to participate in competency-based apprenticeships beginning in high school; and
• Other activities that are designed to increase opportunities for high school CTE students to participate in competency-based apprenticeships beginning in high school.

Pathways to STEM Apprenticeships for High School CTE Students
Pre-Application Webinar

The Department hosted an online, informational session on June 5, 2018, to help interested applicants with the application process for the Pathways to STEM Apprenticeship for High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) Students grant opportunity.

Recorded Webinar (Duration: 48:39)

Materials

• Presentation Slides (PDF, 169 KB)
• Transcript (DOCX, 45 KB)