Perkins IV Introduction
After years of discussion, debate, and development, the 109th Congress overwhelmingly passed the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) during the summer of 2006. The Senate acted on July 26, and the house followed suit on July 29. Fourteen days later, on August 12, 2006, President Bush created Public Law 109-270 when he signed the bill.
Perkins IV seeks to build both on the successes of the 1998 Perkins Act, while also focusing on certain themes found throughout the legislation, These include:
- Accountability
- Coordination within the CTE Community
- Academic and Technical Integration
- Connections between Secondary and Postsecondary Education
- Links to Business and Industry
The Illinois Community College Board and the Illinois State Board of Education continue to work collaboratively to address the challenges of Perkins IV. Fiscal Year 2009 will be the first full year of implementation, following the transition period. The two agencies will focus on professional development, assessment, and refining the statewide process for the development of CTE Cluster and Pathway materials.