Conferences and Professional Development

Depends on the LEA's written travel policies.
In General § 200.475. Travel costs are the expenses for transportation, lodging, and subsistence incurred by employees who are in travel status on official business of the non-Federal entity. Such costs may be charged on an actual cost basis, on a per diem or mileage basis in lieu of actual costs incurred, or on a combination of the two, provided the method used is applied to an entire trip and not to selected days of the trip, and results in charges consistent with those normally allowed in like circumstances in the non-Federal entity's non-federally-funded activities and in accordance with non-Federal entity's written travel reimbursement policies. 

Yes, IF the conference is scheduled to be held relatively soon after the grant period ended (e.g., in the month of July) and IF the advantages to registering before June 30 are to save significant grant dollars (e.g., Early Bird registration).

 No. Expenditures for entertainment or social activities are non-allowable, such as beverages, lodging, meals, non-working meals, transportation, and gratuities. 

In virtually all situations, using grant funds to pay for food and beverages for receptions and networking sessions is not justified because participation in such activities is rarely necessary to achieve the purpose of the meeting or conference and in most events, does not have a programmatic purpose.

No. See CFR 34.707. An obligation to the grant for travel expenses is when the travel is taken. Since the travel did not take place, it is not an obligation to the grant.

However, in situations of an emergency, Perkins may be able to pay the cost of the ticket or any additional airfare. Refunds or Credits due to the airfare change should be deducted from the amount claimed.
An explanation for the change should accompany the reimbursement request clarifying that an emergency had occurred.
  The final determination whether it is reimbursable would be made by NDE Auditors.

 No. Perkins can only pay for the expenses of teachers centered directly on CTE activities. The conference would need to be a CTE-based conference or include information specifically to benefit CTE programs. 

No.

No.

Yes, if the agenda is CTE focused professional development. A math or science teacher that is going to support the implementation of contextualizing their curriculum for a CTE course would be allowable. 

Only CTE teachers may be reimbursed. Other teachers would need to justify how the conference would be used to directly improve CTE programs. Additionally, Principals and Administrators are typically on contract and would not qualify for stipends. 

Yes, Perkins funds can be used to support school counselors’ professional development. 

Perkins funds must be used to advance career and technical education. Registrations to workshops not specifically designed for Career and Technical education are not reimbursable. 

If the teacher is under contract with the district, only CTE professional development would be allowable.

Perkins funds are specifically for supporting CTE programs. Academic staff can be included if they are an integral part of the CTE program of study/activity. In other words, “the primary focus needs to be CTE” which may include core academic staff if working to teach their course within the context of CTE. 

No, however the academic instructor may participate in professional development if it is also offered to CTE instructors. See Question regarding PD for non-CTE participants. 

Yes, however we would need to have a very clear rationale for paying them including the purpose of the payment, their responsibilities (in an academy) and how the professional development aligns to the program offered.

We will need to know more about the academy and the actual externship they have in mind (alignment to the program offered, description of the outcomes from the professional development.)

Perkins funds are specifically for supporting CTE programs. Academic staff can be included if they are an integral part of the CTE program of study/activity. In other words, “the primary focus needs to be CTE staff.” 

Yes, IF they are not on contract. E.g., if the experience occurred during the summer. 

No. Federal Guidelines 76.707 (When Obligations are Made) states that personal services by an employee of the state or a subgrantee are obligated when the services are performed. So the contracted services payment could only be for the days prior to the end of the fiscal year (June 28-30) out of that fiscal year’s grant.
Following are some guidelines for when Perkins V funds are considered obligated (from 34CFR 76.707): 
Type     When
Equipment and supplies       Date of purchase order
Travel                                  When travel is taken
Work of employees                 When work is done
Contracted services             Date of written agreement 

This is a career exploration activity for 9th graders. A team of Extension Educators plan and implement the day’s workshops and activities. Career development workshops and activities are approvable. Lunch and snacks for breaks during the day are not approvable. 

Yes, it would be appropriate to spend Perkins funds for a speaker whose content can be directly tied to a course or program of study standards/benchmarks for one or more career fields. 

Under Federal Law, tuition can be reimbursed for teachers/staff to advance their skills in a CTE related program. The reimbursement cannot be for tuition that helps them earn a BS, MA or PhD. Preapproval is required from NDE. 

This reimbursement is non-allowable to students including the fees associated with dual-credit or advanced placement coursework and testing. (See Tuition/Postsecondary Fees for Special Needs Students.) 

No. Travel expenses can only be reimbursed from the grant funds in place when the travel occurs. Also, reimbursement for the tickets cannot be made until the tickets have been used.

E.g., if travel occurs in July, the expenses would be reimbursed from the grant that was awarded July 1. 

Registration fee - Yes. 

Stipend - Yes, if the activity is conducted off-contract time, (time and effort is required only if attending during contract time) and as long as the registration site information is available.

Have participants track the sessions that they attend.

Make sure this activity was included in the approved Local Application. 

Yes.

This may be allowable for CTE teachers/staff to advance their skills within a CTE related program.  Perkins funds are to be used to enhance the knowledge, competence and develop the practice of the individual. Pre-approval is required.

If the teacher is chaperoning students at a CTE event, these expenses are not allowable as it is the responsibility of the LEA. However, if an instructor is attending a professional development training (and not supervising students), this would be permissible just like other professional development expenses. 

Yes.