Perkins III - State Plan

February 17, 1999

Question:

Answer: Yes, each of the 12 indicators must be addressed including, at minimum, one goal with related strategy, 5-year measure, FY 2000 target and projected budget.

Question:

Answer: There must be a target identified for FY 2000 and on an annual basis for each goal carried over into subsequent years of the local plan.

Question:

Answer: Yes. You must however, report time and effort for any salaries charged to Perkins funds. Caution must also be taken to discriminate between administrative tasks and program-related tasks. Remember that you cannot use more than 5% for administration of Perkins.

Question:

Answer: Perkins funds can only be used for vocational programs, vocational students or prepatory services (such as career explorations/guidance for vocational program enrollment).

February 26, 1999

Question:

Answer: Broad community input is required for planning and implementation of this indicator. The involvement of parents, teachers, local business (including small and medium sized businesses) and labor organizations is required in Perkins III {(Sec. 122(c)(5)(B)}. It is recommended that local planners utilize a partnership already in existence to address this indicator, such as the local School-To-Work Partnership.

Question:

Answer: No additional application and no additional indicators will be required to access the 10% Reserve funds. The 10% Reserve will be allocated to each eligible recipient using the same formula as for the basic fund distribution. The local plan will only need to identify, by number, the indicator the funds will support.

Question:

Answer: Permission must be obtained by the appropriate agency for budget changes only if the change in budget for any single indicators is:

10% OR $1,000 or greater for SECONDARY

10% OR $10,000 or greater for POSTSECONDARY

Question:

Answer: Both secondary and postsecondary local recipients will report fiscal expenditures in their Annual Performance Report (APR) by performance indicator. DCFL will build a cross-walk between UFARS and the APR to facilitate reporting.

March 2, 1999

Question:

Answer: While the Department of Education does not currently expect to issue regulations to implement the new law, the public is welcome to make recommendations to the Department concerning areas of the law that may need to be addressed or clarified through regulation or policy guidance.

On February 17, 1999, the Secretary of Education published a notice in the Federal Register inviting written comments regarding the implementation of Perkins III and titles I and V of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 as they pertain to Perkins III. Comments received on or before April 5, 1999 will be considered in the development of guidance and any regulations that may be necessary, as well as the overall implementation strategy.

Question:

Answer:YES. States are required to use performance indicators to evaluate program effectiveness. (Please refer to section 113 © (1)(A), section 122 (c)(6), and sections 123 (a) and (b). The Department will issue an OMB-approved annual performance report form to collect this information. Additional guidance and instructions will be included in that document. Local recipients will be required to submit an Annual Performance Report (APR) to their respective state agency (MnSCU or DCFL) reflective of the data elements included in the local application.

Question:

Answer:A tech-prep program must include vocational and technical education. {see Sections 3 (26) and 202 (a)(3)}.

March 4, 1999

Question:

Answer: Yes, you must provide a five- (5) year outcome (2004) as well as a one (1) year - or FY 2000 target(s). Both the 5-year outcome and 1-year target(s) must be clearly written and measurable. Raters will be looking for #'s and %.

Question:

Answer: Refer to the criteria/rating guide that was mailed out to you in January 1999 from Lloyd Petri and Ron Johnson. Each indicator will be measured on the following two criteria:

(A) To what extent are the goals, strategies, 5-year (FY2004) measures and 1-year (FY2000) outcome targets clearly specified and measurable?

(B) To what extent do the data elements verify/support these actions?

Question:

Answer: Yes, you will most certainly need to refer to your data matrix in an effort to verify/support the programs, services, and activities that you are proposing within each indicator area.

March 10, 1999

Question:

Answer: No. Unlike the sex equity discretionary grants, resources from the Basic Grant or 10% Reserve may not be used for any of these purposes.

March 17, 1999

Question:

Answer: Group facilitators (mostly DCFL & MnSCU staff) will ask those secondary and postsecondary institutions, that are partnered, to report on indicator #12 as a team. This will give colleagues an opportunity to hear from secondary and postsecondary Perkins representatives at the same time giving a more complete reading of the goals, strategies, 5-year measure, 1-year target and projected budget.

April 30, 1999

Question:

Private schools can be a partner in articulation efforts, but cannot directly receive funds. The funds can be used for public school staff to work with private vocational schools. Private vocational school faculty and staff can go to Perkins sponsored workshops, but the expenses need to come from private college funds. This applies for vocational education programs and some career exploration opportunities.

Question:

You are not eligible for Perkins funding for the upcoming year.

Question:

Yes. We encourage and support the use of Virtual University courses. Caution:You must include broad-based community/business support and input.

Question:

Yes, assuming you meet the minimum requirements of indicators 1-12. Equipment must be for instructional purposes and tied into the strategies to fulfill each indicator. If it is not instructional it must be taken out of administrative funds.

You may use administrative funds to purchase equipment up to but not to exceed 5% of the administrative funds.

Question:

Yes, we will put it on the Web.

Question:

Data at the state level is incomplete. Further, data needs to be analyzed at the local level for planning purposes.

Question:

Yes, we are working at this but due to separate funding sources, this will take additional planning time.

Question:

Yes.

Question:

We just started with indicator 12 and hope that it will develop with the other goals.

Question:

The 10% for indicator 12 is the 10% of the 75% basic vocational grant.

Question:

No, not for FY 2000.

Question:

Yes, Vocational Education funds can only be used for programs, which are state approved and funded. These require a vocationally licensed teacher.

Question:

It needs to be reported by Indicator. CFL is building a cross walk for UFARS by indicator codes.

Question:

No, federal law requires we use quantitative data. i.e. % and #'s.

Question:

Yes, as long as it is NOT supplanting state aids. Definition of supplanting: No Perkins funds may replace state and local funds for vocational and technical education and tech prep activities.

Question:

None of the funds under the Perkins Act shall be used to provide funding under the School-To-Work Opportunities Act of 1994 (20 U.S.C. 6101 et.seq.) or to carry out, through programs funded under this Act, activities that were funded under the School-To-Work Opportunities Act of 1994, unless, the programs funded under this Act serve only those participants eligible to participate in the programs under the Perkins Act.

Question:

Yes. See response to preceding question.

Question:

A booklet is being prepared to provide the recognized Skills Standards by Tom Girtz, he can be reached at: tom.girtz@so.mnscu.edu.

Question:

See Page 33 (of your local application) under the definitions for the response, or other barriers inherent to your local student population.

Question:

Yes, as long as the students are enrolled in approved vocational education programs. See page 33 (of your local application) for the definition of disadvantaged.

Question:

This is being worked on and areas will be posted on the Web as soon as they are available.

Question:

Yes.

Question:

Use the 12 Perkins indicators as the foundation for the local plan. Be sure to address the graduation standards for Perkins III and refer to Perkins II Standards and Measures as quality factors.

Question:

Yes, as long as the trip is tied to an approved vocational program or career preparatory activity.

Question:

Yes - Vocational education or related organizations only.

Question:

Yes.

Question:

No.

Question:

Yes.

Question:

Yes, if the articulation includes the integration of academic and technical skills.

Question:

Yes, but resources for this must come out of the 5% administrative funds.

Question:

Courses without vocationally licensed teachers are not eligible for Perkins funding.

Question:

No, this is not necessary.

Question:

Yes, out of the 5% administrative funds.

Question:

Yes: Considering attainment of standards is part of the curriculum.

Question:

Yes. See the previous question, but amendments must be approved for secondary prior to April 15.

Question:

Nothing below 7th grade level. In the 7th, 8th, and 9th grade level, guidance and career exploration activities are permissible expenditures. Some examples include:

-job shadowing/field trips,

-marketing, vocational education courses at the high school level,

-MCIS, Career Explorer, Career Winds or other career exploration publications.

Contact Diane Miller, Career Development/Counseling, at MN DCFL 651-582-8409, for additional resource information.