CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) has completed a restructuring of the Perkins application and the revamping of the Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment used to provide funding for Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in Wyoming.
“CTE is a cornerstone of my strategic plan. Removing any barrier to successfully accessing these funds is a critical step toward increasing career pathways for our students,” said State Superintendent Megan Degenfelder. “I am grateful for the support we received from the advisory group stakeholders in this process.”
The Perkins Application Advisory Group, composed of district superintendents, directors and Perkins coordinators at the school and college level was created to provide feedback about the process. This group defined areas that could be streamlined in the application. Additional data sets will also be provided to applicants and regionally based technical assistance will be provided to improve the submission process.
“Superintendent Degenfelder assembled a highly qualified group to advise her on the changes needed. The result was a much needed improvement to the process,” said Rob Hill, Public Policy Chairman of the Wyoming Association for Career and Technical Education. “Her collaborative approach created the outcome we needed for our local districts to be impacted by the opportunities the grant provides.”
The Wyoming Perkins V Plan is part of the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, designed to enhance CTE programs. It aims to prepare students for high-demand, high-wage careers by aligning educational programs with local industry needs. Over the past year, the WDE developed this plan through extensive stakeholder engagement, including listening sessions and public comments.
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Media Contact:
Linda Finnerty, Chief Communications Officer
307-777-2053
linda.finnerty@wyo.gov
