Federal Perkins funds are provided to prepare youth and adults for a wide range of high-wage, high-skill, high-demand careers.

The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) requires a state performance accountability system to promote continuous career and technology education (CATE) program improvement. Federal funding is dependent upon the State meeting performance goals that address the core indicators for student achievement outlined in the federal law.