Credentials to Careers Grant

The Credentials to Careers Grant is administered by the Iowa Department of Education to support the development and expansion of secondary Career and Technical Education programs that lead to industry-recognized credentials. The program is funded through the Perkins Reserve Fund under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, as amended by Perkins V, reflecting a statewide effort to strengthen workforce readiness and align education with labor market needs. The initiative focuses on ensuring that students can earn credentials that are validated by employers and industry associations, enabling them to transition effectively into high-demand careers or pursue further education. The primary purpose of the grant is to assist Iowa school districts in aligning existing or new CTE pathways with state-approved industry-recognized credentials. These credentials are designed to demonstrate measurable skill attainment and are available across a wide range of career fields, including health sciences, information technology, manufacturing, construction, business, culinary arts, and child development. The program emphasizes stackable credentials, allowing students to build progressively advanced qualifications that support long-term career advancement and adaptability in the workforce. Funding is structured based on a tiered system tied to the labor market value of each credential. Tier 3 credentials, which align with high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand occupations, may receive up to 50000 dollars. Tier 2 credentials may receive up to 45000 dollars, and Tier 1 credentials up to 15000 dollars. Funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis and may be used for a range of allowable costs directly related to credential attainment. These include student assessment fees, instructional materials, equipment, software, professional development, and other programmatic expenses necessary to deliver credential-aligned instruction. Eligibility is limited to Iowa school districts, which must submit a separate application for each credential selected from the state-approved list for the 2026-2027 academic year. Applicants are required to demonstrate how the proposed credential will be integrated into existing CTE pathways and must provide evidence of sustainability beyond the grant period. Priority consideration is given to districts that have not previously received funding under this program, encouraging broader participation across the state. The application process requires submission through the IowaGrants.gov platform. Each application is evaluated using a formal scoring rubric that considers core program criteria as well as competitive preference points. These preference points are awarded based on the degree to which the proposed credential aligns with high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand occupational categories. Applicants must ensure that each credential is verified as eligible on the approved list prior to submission. The application deadline for the 2026-2027 cycle was June 12, 2026, with a final system deadline of June 16, 2026, at 11:59 PM. The grant operates on a recurring annual cycle, with project performance spanning from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Awards are competitive, and applicants are expected to present clear implementation plans, alignment with workforce needs, and strategies for sustaining credential attainment opportunities for students. For additional information or assistance, applicants may contact the program officer, Jodie Smith, who serves as a Career and Technical Education Program Consultant. She can be reached via email at jodie.smith@iowa.gov or by phone at 515-419-5190. The program reflects a strategic investment in workforce development by bridging secondary education with industry-recognized credentials that prepare students for high-value career pathways.

Ensure credentials align with high-skill, high-wage, high-demand occupations to maximize scoring; demonstrate sustainability and integration into existing CTE pathways