By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite on September 12th, 2023

Got CTE Funding? We've got Resources.

Trying to figure out how to best spend your Career & Technical Education funding - or use other funding for career & technical education programs? Let's take a look at some options.

Carl D. Perkins Funding

The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act distributes nearly $1.4 billion annually for the purpose of helping schools allow every student to explore, choose, and follow career pathways and higher education programs of study to develop skills necessary for their futures. Beyond general support of CTE programs, Perkins funding outlines the following use-cases for spending funds to support students in these areas:

Integrate Academics & CTE
Provide Access to CTE to Special Populations
Professional Development
Support Entrepreneurial Education
Purchase Equipment
Integrate Technology

Looking for justification and alignment information for tools that can be purchased with Perkins funding? Click here to download our brief guide.

How to Write a Grant - CTE Guide

There are plenty of other grant funding sources out there - if you know where to look, yet sometimes writing your statements to apply can feel like an overwhelming task. We've put together a free download, How to Write a Grant - a CTE eBook, complete with common grant opportunities, a checklist (with samples!) of items to prepare for CTE grant-writing, the process for grant application, plus helpful links and resources for your search to find funds!

The Student-Based Enterprise (SBE)

A commonly implemented Career & Technical Education program in schools using CTE funding revolves around the student-based enterprise, or school store. Students develop business plans, create marketing materials, design products, and collect revenue all with the goal of furthering their entrepreneurial and critical-thinking business-related skills. Instead of outsourcing all the ordering of products and goods, consider providing students with the tools to create their own products!

Download our free Building a Student-Based Enterprise Toolkit complete with over 50 pages of lesson plans, linked resources, suggested materials, cost breakdowns, and more - then check out this case study featuring Venice High School's "Indian Ink" SBE program and see how they used tools available to run their business from start to finish!

Special Education Programs Promoting Work Skills

While general school curriculum is obviously important, schooling is ultimately preparing students for their adult life beyond the walls of the classrooms - and this is most important for students with special needs. Giving special education students valuable responsibilities and meaningful work is great preparation for future careers and general basic adult-life skills. Plus, these programs can be funded with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) dollars, so your options can continue to grow to support these student populations. Download our brief guide on IDEA funding and alignment here.

VariQuest has schools around the country using our tools to support their high school special education programs - and we invite you to check out these great case studies to learn more:

And of course, there's so much more to explore when it comes to CTE - and having all the tools in your toolbox is invaluable. The VariQuest® Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite allows students to design and manufacture their own posters, banners, bumper stickers, magnets, window vinyl and more on-demand and in-house to use for sale in their SBE program. The Perfecta® Poster Design System, Cutout Maker Digital Die-Cut System, and Motiva® Specialty Printer work together with the Engage Every Learner® Content on the VariQuest Design Software to make the dream a reality!

Contact us today for a no-obligation demonstration with one of our expert education consultants to see how our tools could be a great fit in your CTE program!