CHA PTER 1:
O VE R VI E W O F C T E GR A N T S
This chapter includes the following topics:
 Illinois Postsecondary Perkins Title I Grant
 Illinois Partnerships for College and Career Success Grants
 Additional CTE Leadership Grants
Overview
The intent of Illinois postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) is to
provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in our global
economy. The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act
created a paradigm shift in the expectations and opportunities provided by CTE.
Through Programs of Study, community college CTE provides students with the
foundational knowledge to explore a cluster of occupations and careers. As the
student evolves through their educational experience, their focus is narrowed to a
particular program. This process allows students to transition seamlessly, while
providing them with hands-on exploration, rigorous academics, and the support
necessary to succeed.
Illinois Postsecondary Title I Perkins Grant
Signed into law on August 12, 2006, the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Improvement Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) is the most important piece of
legislation affecting career and technical education in Illinois. By focusing state and
local efforts on continuously improving programs, Perkins IV seeks to enhance the
academic achievement of CTE students. This is accomplished by:
 Strengthening
education;
the
connections
between
secondary
and
postsecondary
 Restructuring the way stakeholders - high schools, community colleges,
universities, business and industry, community based organizations, adult
education providers, and parents - work together;
 Increasing state and local accountability standards.
In Illinois, federal Perkins Title I funds are divided 60/40 between the secondary
postsecondary systems and administration is shared between the Illinois State Board
of Education (ISBE) and the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). The 57
Educational-for-Employment Regions receive funds from ISBE to support secondary
CTE programs and the 39 community college districts receive funds from the ICCB to
support postsecondary CTE programs. By law, the secondary and postsecondary
grants must allocate at least 85% of the funds to eligible recipients by formula
allocation; up to 10% of the funds can be used for leadership activities; and up to 5%
can be used for administration. For more information on ISBE managed CTE
programs, go to: http://www.isbe.net/career/default.htm.
In order to receive federal Postsecondary Perkins Title I funds, Illinois community
colleges must have an annual grant plan approved by the ICCB. The specific
requirements for these plans vary slightly from year to year, but always require
planning activities to support the “Postsecondary Perkins Elements” (see below).
Postsecondary Perkins Program Elements
 Improvement of Academic and Career and Technical Skills of CTE Students
 Collaborations and Partnerships
 Program Quality and Continuous Improvement
 Access and Success for Special Populations
 Nontraditional Training and Employment
 Faculty and Staff Professional Development
The specific requirements for the federal Perkins Title I grant plan can be found in
the annual Postsecondary Plan Guidelines, available at:
http://www.iccb.org/postsecondary.html.
Illinois Partnerships for College and Career Success Grants
Vision Statement
“Each and every student will have access to rigorous and relevant education and
opportunities that prepare them for success in college and careers.”
In Illinois, Perkins Title II programs are called Partnerships for College and Career Success
(PCCS). It is the mission of PCCS to collaborate to ensure that all students are college
and career ready and provided with the academic and technical competencies to
transition from secondary to postsecondary education in order to pursue high skill, high
demand, or high wage careers. The Partnerships will lead by emphasizing comprehensive
career preparation and providing a collaborative environment that engages and retains
students in learner-centered instruction.
Perkins IV calls for an increased emphasis on coordination and collaboration within
the CTE community, a theme that is most clearly manifested in the Programs of
Study requirement (see Perkins IV, section 122(c)(1)(A).
All Education-forEmployment Systems and community colleges in Illinois are required to develop and
implement rigorous CTE Programs of Study that incorporate secondary and
postsecondary elements, along with academic and CTE content, in a coordinated,
non-duplicative progression of courses. At their core, these Programs of Study must
create a coordinated, non-duplicative progression of courses that align secondary
education with postsecondary education to align content, reduce remediation,
prepare students to attain a postsecondary degree or certificate, and succeed in
their chosen occupation. Funding for Partnerships for College and Career Success
will be primarily devoted to facilitating the development, supporting the
implementation, and assisting in the maintenance of regional Programs of Study.
The goal of the Partnerships for College and Career Success is to assemble the
necessary regional stakeholders and resources in order to develop state-level CTE
Pathway models and implement locally relevant CTE Programs of Study. Additionally,
the Partnerships must endeavor to successfully and seamlessly transition students
into, through, and out of these programs and into the workforce.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS GOALS:
1. Increase collaboration between secondary and postsecondary systems;
2. Create seamless transitions from secondary to postsecondary education;
3. Ensure that individuals who are members of special populations have the
opportunity to access and succeed in CTE programs;
4. Develop career pathways that contain multiple entry and exit points to facilitate
student success and lifelong learning;
5. Increase curricular alignment and reduce curricular duplication;
6. Reduce the need for remediation;
7. Support the development of integrated and applied curricular content;
8. Increase the opportunities for students to earn college credit while enrolled in
high school;
9. Increase the opportunities for students to obtain marketable postsecondary
certificates or degrees that support their career goals;
10. Create professional development programs designed to simultaneously engage
and support secondary and postsecondary partners;
11. Utilize data for program improvement.
Additional CTE Leadership Grants
The ICCB administers several other funding opportunities that support
postsecondary CTE in Illinois. These grants are offered at various times throughout
the year and have specific, targeted purposes.
Program Improvement Grant
The CTE Program Improvement Grant (PIG) is intended to enhance instruction and
academic support activities that strengthen and improve career and technical
education. This is part of the ICCB Restricted Grant package and funding is allocated
to each Illinois community college on an annual basis.
The PIG guidelines can be found along with the other ICCB Restricted grants at
http://www.iccb.org/budget.guidelines.html.
The PIG allocation table can be found at: http://www.iccb.org/budget.cte.html
For more information, contact Rob Kerr, Director of Career and Technical Education,
at (217) 785-0068 or rob.kerr@illinois.gov.
CTE Innovation Grant
The purpose of the CTE Innovation Grant is to provide resources to help develop or
enhance innovative community college CTE programs and Programs of Study, and
support the expansion of these innovations through collaborative activities with
regional partners.
The CTE Innovation Grant guidelines and allocation table can be downloaded at:
http://www.iccb.org/postsecondary.html
For more information, contact Rob Kerr, Director of Career and Technical Education,
at (217) 785-0068 or rob.kerr@illinois.gov.
CTE Regional Collaboration Grant
The purpose of the CTE Regional Collaboration Grant is to promote collaboration
and innovation throughout the state. Community colleges and PCCS entities must
come together to access funds under this grant. These groups, known as “Regional
Collaboratives,” seek to improve, modernize, and enhance the career and technical
education programs of all the partners.
Regional Collaborative Name
 Central Illinois Alliance (CIA)
 Dupage/Joliet Math & CTE Collaborative
 North Central Regional Collaborative
 Northern Illinois CTE Collaborative
 Collaboration of Southern Illinois (CSI)
 Black Hawk/Highland/Sauk Valley
Regional CTE Collaboration
Contact Person
Sherry Hott
Ann Marie Rosen
Glen O’Connor
Tony Capalbo
Jane Fleming
Sharon Lindahl
Regional Collaborative Name
 Suburban Cook/Lake County
Regional Collaborative
Contact Person
Sherry Burlingame
For more information, contact Rob Kerr, Director of Career and Technical Education,
at (217) 785-0068 or rob.kerr@illinois.gov.
Programs of Study Local Implementation Grant
The purpose of the Programs of Study Local Implementation Grant is to provide
resources to support local efforts in the development, improvement, and
implementation of aligned Programs of Study, as defined in the Perkins IV
legislation. Recipients will be required to engage in the Pathways to Results (PTR)
process to assist with this implementation.
The Programs of Study Local Implementation Grant Guidelines can be downloaded
at: http://iccbdbsrv.iccb.org/programsofstudy/grantresource.html
For more information, contact Kristy Morelock, Associate Director for CTE Programs
of Study, at (217) 558-4929 or kristy.morelock@illinois.gov.