PERKINS POSTSECONDRY RESERVE FUND
PYE15 Grant Application
Overview & General Information
Perkins Postsecondary Reserve Fund Authorization
The approved Arkansas State Plan for Career and Technical Education authorizes ADHE to reserve up to
10% of awards provided to local recipients. This Perkins Postsecondary Reserve Fund may be used to
fund model projects that support statewide Perkins goals and will be awarded through a competitive
RFP process. These model projects include alignment of curricula in CTE programs of study as defined in
the current Perkins legislation. Recipients must be willing to provide technical assistance to institutions
wishing to replicate projects funded through the Reserve Fund.
Purpose for Perkins Postsecondary Reserve Fund
Funds will be awarded for the purpose of increasing the number of students completing welding
programs and receiving recognized industry certification. Preference will be given to proposals that
focus primarily on aligning welding curricula between secondary and postsecondary institutions and
with said curricula based on industry standards which meets the needs of business and industry in
Arkansas. Use of the reserve fund for programs of study is also in response to a compliance finding
received during a federal monitoring review in 2014. Arkansas is in improvement plan status until this
deficiency is corrected.
Perkins Postsecondary Reserve Fund Amount
Perkins recipients did not spend $180,000 of funds allocated in 2013-14. ADHE has set aside $95,000 of
this amount for the Perkins Postsecondary Reserve Fund to be distributed through a competitive grant
process for developing and/or enhancing programs of study in welding. Amounts awarded are in
addition to basic grant awards and will be reimbursed separately from these funds.
Eligible Recipients
Institutions eligible for Reserve Fund grants must be a current Perkins recipient and meet at least one of
the following criteria
1. Be located in a rural area. For the Reserve Fund, rural is defined as Arkansas counties will less than
120 people per square mile. (Benton, Craighead, Faulkner, Garland, Pulaski, Saline, Sebastian, and
Washington)
2. Have a high number of CTE students. For the Reserved Fund, this is defined as a minimum of 800
students enrolled in CTE programs.
3. Have a high percentage of CTE students. For the Reserve Fund, this is defined as either 50% of
overall student population enrolled in CTE or 50% of all programs offered are CTE.
Program of Study Requirements as Defined in Perkins Legislation
Sec. 122. (c)(1) CTE program of study definition
 Incorporates secondary and postsecondary elements
 Includes coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant
CTE content
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Is delivered in a coordinated, non-duplicated progression of courses that align secondary and
postsecondary education to prepare students to succeed in postsecondary education
May include opportunity for dual/concurrent/articulated college credit
Leads to an industry-recognized credential or postsecondary certificate or degree
Eligible Use of Funds
 Expenses related to convening secondary and postsecondary staff for purpose of aligning curriculum
(stipends, travel, meals, meeting supplies, etc.)
 Expenses related to establishing agreements between secondary and postsecondary
 Expenses related to establishing agreements between postsecondary institutions for purposes of
credit transfer
 Expenses for required curriculum development and/or embedding of NCCER, AWS or other industry
recognized curriculum in existing coursework
 Expenses related to establishing joint secondary/postsecondary and/or regional welding advisory
boards
 Expenses related to activities that increase the number of students obtaining industry certifications
(certification of faculty to administer certification assessments, student testing fees, etc.)
 Professional development for welding faculty
 Activities that promote enrollment and completion of females in welding programs
 Expenses related to collection and reporting of student certification results
 Administration of the grant
 Equipment and/or classroom supplies are ineligible at this time. If funds remain, a second grant
period will be open for equipment requests.
 If requested funds are for something other than curriculum alignment, a completed Program of
Study Template for the welding program must be provided as evidence that the program complies
with Perkins requirements.
Award Period & Timeline
 February 20, 2015
 March 16, 2015
 April 3, 2015
 September 30, 2015
 December 15, 2015
 December 15, 2015
Grant Application Process Announced
Application Deadline
Applicants Notified
Deadline to Obligate Funds
Deadline to Submit Final Project Report
Deadline to Submit Final Request for Reimbursements
Application & Submission Process
Qualified institutions must submit a proposal describing the nature and scope of the proposed project
and the amount of funding requested. The application form and related documents can be found at
http://www.adheperkins.com under State Announcements.
The Perkins Postsecondary Reserve Fund application form must be submitted electronically to
monieca.west@adhe.edu no later than 4:30 p.m. on March 16, 2015. Applications received after the
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deadline will not be considered. Applicants will be notified of results by email no later than April 3,
2015.
Reporting Requirements
A final narrative report and a final expenditure report must be submitted no later than December 15,
2015. The final report must include a completed Program of Study Template (found at
http://www.adheperkins.com).
Failure to Commence and Right to Terminate Project
If the project activities described in the grant proposal have not commenced within 30 days after
acceptance of the grant award, the recipient must provide a written explanation and an adjusted
timeline. If project activities have not commenced within 15 days of the receipt of this letter, ADHE may
terminate the grant and the recipient will be required to reimburse the State of Arkansas for all Reserve
Fund monies previously received.
Any changes to activities described in the grant assurances must be approved in writing prior to the
change occurring. Failure to do so could result in termination of the grant and/or refusal to
reimbursement expenses paid without proper approval.
Payment of Grant Funds
Funds will be paid to the institution on a reimbursement basis. Documentation must accompany all
requests for reimbursement. This documentation includes evidence of the date of obligation and
evidence that the expense has been paid by the institution. This reimbursement is separate from basic
Perkins grant funds.
For More Information:
Monieca West, ADHE Federal Program Manager
501.371.2018
monieca.west@adhe.edu
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