The Tennessee Department of Education has awarded more than $2.6 million in Perkins Reserve Grant (PRG) grant funds to 55 school districts to support career and technical education (CTE) programming in the 2024-25 school year.¶
According to a Wednesday department announcement, the grant initiative supports programs relating to emerging technology and “high-skill, high-wage” occupations where science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills are most in demand. In addition, the grant is designed to support districts in rural areas and help districts maintain student participation in CTE programs.¶
“Career and technical education plays an important role in every student's academic journey,” Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds said in a public statement. “We look forward to seeing how districts utilize these grant funds to implement STEM curriculum, create career exploration opportunities for elementary and middle school students, and inform students on growing and new careers.”¶
The announcement noted that this year’s PRG grant award recipients submitted grant applications with action steps to advance STEM and CTE programming in elementary and middle school grade levels. It added that the PRG is a competitive grant opportunity made possible through the federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) legislation that was passed in 2018 to provide annual funding to support CTE programming nationwide.¶
This year’s recipients are as follows: Alcoa City Schools - $50,000¶
Alvin C. York Institute - $46,148¶
Anderson County Schools - $50,000¶
Bedford County Schools - $50,000¶
Bledsoe County Schools - $23,145¶
Blount County Schools - $50,000¶
Bradford Special School District - $25,000¶
Bradley County Schools - $50,000¶
Bristol City Schools - $50,000¶
Cannon County Schools - $50,000¶
Chester County Schools - $26,781¶
Cocke County Schools - $50,000¶
Coffee County Schools - $50,000¶
Cumberland County Schools - $50,000¶
Decatur County Schools - $50,000¶
Dyer County Schools - $50,000¶
Dyersburg City Schools - $50,000¶
Franklin County Schools - $50,000¶
Germantown Municipal Schools - $50,000¶
Gibson County Special School District - $49,250¶
Giles County Schools - $50,000¶
Grainger County Schools - $50,000¶
Hardin County Schools - $50,000¶
Hawkins County Schools - $25,000¶
Humboldt City Schools - $50,000¶
Huntingdon Special School District - $49,813¶
Jackson County Schools - $50,000¶
Jefferson County Schools - $50,000¶
Johnson City Schools - $50,000¶
Johnson County Schools - $50,000¶
Lakeland School System - $50,000¶
Lewis County Schools - $50,000¶
Lincoln County Schools - $50,000¶
Lenoir City Schools - $50,000¶
Macon County Schools - $50,000¶
Millington Municipal Schools - $50,000¶
Oak Ridge Schools - $48,850¶
Overton County Schools - $50,000¶
Perry County Schools - $30,000¶
Polk County Schools - $50,000¶
Putnam County Schools - $50,000¶
Rutherford County Schools - $50,000¶
Smith County Schools - $43,356¶
South Carroll Special School District - $49,625¶
Sullivan County Schools - $50,000¶
Sumner County Schools - $50,000¶
Trenton Special School District - $50,000¶
Tullahoma City Schools - $50,000¶
Van Buren County Schools - $50,000¶
Warren County Schools - $50,000¶
Washington County Schools - $50,000¶
Wayne County Schools - $50,000¶
West Carroll Special School District - $50,000¶
White County Schools - $50,000¶
Wilson County Schools - $50,000¶
