CTSOs

No. Funds may not be used for direct benefit to students. Perkins funds cannot be used to provide a “direct benefit” to students.

Depends on the materials and their alignment to an approved program of study standards. Booklets and sample tests to help prepare students would be an approvable expenditure under the auspices of instructional materials aligned to classroom learning and support of CTSO’s. The competitive event must be aligned to current classroom instruction offered by the district.

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.

These expenses are not allowable under the stipulation relating to direct benefit to students. However, expenses for students to attend field trips and laboratory activities related to career education instruction is permissible.

No, conference registration fees for Advisors are not allowable. If it is for a student, it is not as this would be a “direct benefit of funds to students.” Other examples of non-approvable expenditures include: bus seats for students to travel to conferences, sleeping rooms, and/or activity or admission tickets.

No. CTSO’s are an ongoing expenditure that would require maintenance of effort with local funds so it is questionable in terms of Local Perkins Application. It would be better to focus on the professional development of the faculty that would help enhance instruction or establish new and enhanced programs of study.
However, if you're looking to add a CTE program or strengthen a CTE program by adding a CTSO and need to send a teacher for his/her own professional development, (without students) to learn, then that may be allowable.

No. Perkins can pay for time and travel for professional development that improves teaching and learning - not the supervision of students or competition preparation. We would need proof that the advisor attends those sessions and is not just there to supervise students and watch the competitions. Perkins could reimburse expenses for that percentage of time, not the entire trip because supervision of students is a local responsibility and expense. (If Perkins paid for their time and expenses, it could imply NDE responsibility if there is a student issue. This also applies to a person who wants to attend a conference before starting a chapter – again, Perkins could only pay for that portion that is directly related to professional development. If a district wants to go through the pain of breaking out the percentage of expenses and time certifying, they could get reimbursed for the professional development component of the conference. This is professional development beyond the competitions – not a session on how to prepare your students for competition. See questions above.