Perkins Programming

Overview

For the 2022-2023 academic year, ACC, ACC was initially awarded $1,109,524 through the Perkins Basic Grant. In March 2023, $292,743 was reallocated to ACC from unspent funds from the previous grant year.

Funds were allocated to Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in six areas of study and Student Affairs. Funds were used for instructional equipment, program-specific tutors, child care and textbooks scholarships, and Student Advocate salaries to provide wraparound services and case management for Perkins-eligible students.

Accomplishments

• $672,559 was allocated for instructional equipment to improve the student experience and to provide training using state-of-the-art equipment currently used in business and industry.
• $187,892 was allocated for course-specific tutors in seven programs to help increase course completion, semester-to-semester persistence and graduation rates.
• $300,000 was allocated to child care scholarships for eligible CTE student parents.

Impact

Note that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board uses metrics that apply to all CTE students, not just students who are impacted by Perkins grant funds. At the district level, key metrics, called core indicators, include:

• Postsecondary retention and placement
• Earned recognized postsecondary credential
• Non-traditional program enrollment
• Annual enrollment

ACC meets more than 90% of the state target of 83% of all CTE students being retained or placed (employment) in the 2020-2021 reporting period, the most recent report available. ACC meets and exceeds state standards in each of the other three core indicators.

At the program level, core indicators include:

• Nontraditional program enrollment
• List of programs leading to employment in nontraditional fields
• Number of program degrees and certificates awarded
• Program completer placement rate

CTE students who received Perkins-funded child care scholarships, along with case management, persisted at rates that are 10% higher than those of all other students.

Next Steps

The grant year ends on August 31, 2023. All Perkins expenditures must be completed by that day.

Planning for FY24 will begin in May. CTE deans will solicit requests from faculty in their area. The deans will prioritize and present them to the Perkins director, the associate vice chancellor of workforce programs, and their fellow CTE deans to craft the next grant application. The FY24 application is due in June or July.