A Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment offers a Visionary Approach to Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act
A significant requirement to receive Perkins V funding (officially The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act) is the completion of a Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA) every two years. Section 134 of the law requires eligible applicants to complete a CLNA for current and proposed Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and must include an evaluation of
student performance. In addition, funding recipients must describe their programs are:
- Sufficient in size, scope, and quality to meet students’ needs;
- Aligned to state, regional, tribal, or local in-demand industry sectors or occupations; and
- Designed to meet other local education or economic demands.
Pathway2Careers™ can support those seeking to build a shared understanding amongst stakeholders and establish a well-funded vision
for their CTE program(s).
A CLNA report provides the necessary perspective to make local CTE programs relevant to the future of their students, more effective in addressing the talent demands of priority industries, and more important to the overall prospects of the community. The value of CTE programs impacting student performance is well-documented. Yet, the CLNA process optimizes those impacts by expanding the circle of stakeholders and leveraging the power of the community to support its programs. Because the CLNA requires the school and the district to evaluate their programs in light of the educational, workforce, and economic development aspirations of the community it serves, it presents an opportunity for innovative educators to position themselves as key contributors to the economic growth of their communities. A thoughtful approach to optimizing the CLNA process through regional labor market analysis, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning may involve a trusted resource adept at ensuring that funding aligns with the needs of your community. Pathway2Careers™ can support those seeking to build a shared understanding amongst stakeholders and establish a well-funded vision
for their CTE program(s).
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