TDOE Announces 2026-27 Perkins Reserve Grant Awards Total $2.6M

Funding Fuels Student Achievement and Pathways to Military, College, and Career Success

Nashville, TN-Today, the Tennessee Department of Education announced that more than $2.6 million in Perkins Reserve Grant (PRG) funds have been awarded to 58 school districts for the 2026-27 school year to support Career and Technical Education (CTE) statewide. View

This year's PRG grant award recipients submitted grant applications outlining action steps to support the department's FutureReadyTN state plan- supported by the department's four pillars of Credentials of Value, Seamless Transitions, Individualized Advising, and Work-Based Learning. The goal is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to thrive in an evolving economy. View the full list of grant award recipients.

"Our mission is to provide every student with the knowledge and skills necessary for success after graduation, whether they pursue college, enter the workforce, or serve in the military," said Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education. "We are excited to see districts use these grant funds to create engaging career exploration programs for elementary and middle school students and to inspire them in emerging and expanding career fields."

The PRG is a competitive grant opportunity made possible by the federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V), passed in 2018, which provides annual federal funding to support CTE programs nationwide.

Tennessee students continue to demonstrate strong academic gains and postsecondary readiness as strategic state investments in public education deliver measurable results across the state. Tennessee has invested over $560 million in Innovative School Model grants, designed to eliminate structural barriers between K-12 classrooms and the workforce by expanding early postsecondary opportunities, work-based learning, and industry certifications for middle and high school students.

By the Numbers:

• In 2024-25, more than 77,400 industry credentials were earned by secondary students statewide.
• Students in Early Postsecondary Opportunities (EPSOs) are up to 88 percent more likely to pursue postsecondary education after high school graduation.
• Students who receive personalized advising are two times more likely to develop a clear postsecondary plan.
• Work-based learning (WBL) students are nearly 25 percent more likely to enroll in postsecondary than non-WBL students seamlessly after high school.
• WBL students earn nearly $4,200 more on average per year without a postsecondary degree than non-WBL students without a postsecondary degree eight years after high school graduation.
• 85 percent of CTE teachers agreed or strongly agreed that CTE pathways prepare students for college and careers while offering valuable college credit or industry credentials.
• 64 percent of CTE teachers said that industry partners are involved in their school programs.

For Tennessee Department of Education media inquiries, contact [email protected].

###