Leadership Funds for Corrections and Disabilities

Project Overview

2025-2026 Perkins V Services to Corrections and Disabilities Grant Opportunity

Minnesota State invites eligible organizations to apply for funding under the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) to support career-related services for individuals who are justice-involved or have disabilities. Perkins V maintains expectations of renewed and strengthened focus on collaborative partnerships that improve academic and technical education and career preparation, with a stronger emphasis on access and equity for learners.

These efforts should increase and strengthen partnerships that:

provide equitable support for learners to access and persist in training and job preparation;
foster collaboration for access, equity, and inclusiveness for youth and adult learners with disabilities or those who are justice-involved across agencies and community partners;
share practices and scale initiatives that address challenges in education and work readiness of those individuals served;
expand the diversification of collaboration with educators, counselors, coaches, and community service providers that help prepare individuals from vulnerable and marginalized communities for employment and postsecondary career and technical education (CTE).

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Eligibility

This grant program serves adults or youth who are incarcerated, those on probation, and individuals transitioning out of incarceration in less than three years. Services to individuals with criminal backgrounds, in general, are NOT eligible for these funds.

Corrections:

Correctional institutions or agencies including county community correction agencies that serve adults or youth who were incarcerated and have transitioned out of incarceration or are justice-involved (i.e. active probation).
Community organizations that provide direct services to individuals transitioning from correctional institutions. Those groups, such as transitional facilities, workforce centers, assistance to veterans, community-based programs, etc., who provide services such as job or skills training and employment services.

Disabilities:

State institutions or agencies and community organizations that provide direct services to youth or adults with disabilities (regardless of any affiliation with corrections). Examples: Veterans, chemical dependency, services to immigrant populations, etc.
Other organizations that provide direct services or other programming for career preparation, employment training, job skill development, etc., within the disabilities.

Secondary schools, colleges and universities are not eligible to apply for this institutional grant.

Project Funding Considerations

Up to $50,000 is available for this funding. Grants awarded are typically between $5,000 and $25,000.
Efforts to address nontraditional job training for females and/or males; supporting veterans or immigrant populations; consideration for those in recovery of mental health or chemical dependency challenges that are seeking training and employment.
An applicant may submit only ONE proposal.
Matching or leveraged funds are not required but highly encouraged.

Budgetary Limitations

Project management expenses associated with direct implementation of the proposed project are eligible for grant reimbursement. A maximum of 5% can be allocated to project expenses (e.g., salaries and benefits of the project manager or other key programming staff). Funds cannot be used to supplant existing salary or staff funding.
Perkins legislation does not permit administrative fees for managing grant funds (Sec. 124(d)).
Equipment and Facilities: Funds may NOT be used for equipment purchases, indirect costs, or overhead expenses (e.g. rent, utilities, office supplies, and other operational expenses of the organization).
Support Services and Wages: Youth or adult stipends/wages, fees, gifts, tuition, or any individual expenditures for tools and equipment are NOT supported under this grant. (OCTAE Regulatory Guidance, D.27, 2007)

Allowable and Prohibited Uses of Funds - Perkins Operational Guide

Required Program Emphasis

The target population to be served is youth and/or adults. The program proposal must target at least one but not restricted to the following categories:

Work Readiness, Skills Training, or Career Pathway Preparation — Services that directly relate to soft skills training, industry certifications, or preparation for integrated, competitive employment.
Career Exploration or Career Development — Such as job sampling, job shadowing, mentoring, and other experiential activities that allow participants to have hands-on exploration of high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand career options**.
Transitional or Job Placement Services – Assist participants with transition services related to coordination of employment or postsecondary enrollment, which is outside of correctional or restricted (non-integrated) settings.

Other areas of interest will be considered upon the request of consultation prior to submitting a grant proposal.

**High-wage, high-skill, in-demand skills would include nontraditional careers in which females and males are underrepresented in an occupation or field of work.

Proposal Guidelines

Proposals should consist of the following sections:

I. Project Title Page

Include a descriptive project title and present an abstract of your proposal.

II. Project Narrative

Describe what will be accomplished, who will plan and implement the project, and how the project will be evaluated for impact on the participant outcomes. A BRIEF and CONCISE background that considers the following questions:

Background:

Proposed number of participants served
Purpose and assessment of the need for the project described, the audience served, roles and accountability of defined partners, and the benefit of partner involvement in the project
Alignment of work and resources to any other initiatives that connect with this project
How this project provides valued-added services to the population served and for improving overall access and opportunity to career and technical education and related services

Work Plan (provides detail about the project administration and program participation):

Clarity of operational (project) outcomes (goals, strategies, and measurable)
Demographics of population served, etc.
Description of outcomes and impact of the project on those served (e.g. certifications, job placement, etc.)
Narrative for how ALL relevant funds will be used during the project
Timeline for project delivery setting forth realistic benchmarks for performance
Deliverables provided to Minnesota State System Office and others, where applicable
Evaluation plan for participant outcomes and feedback
Plan for sustaining the project beyond the grant term

III. Budget

Each proposal must include the amount requested and a detailed budget with a narrative explaining essential components
Indicate the capacity to manage funds awarded
Indicate any other significant resources such as leveraged, matching, or other grant funds being used to support the proposed project

IV. Appendices (Supplemental Materials)

Please be brief and share:

Background for each project supervisor or project manager
A list of collaborators, their roles, and specific responsibilities for the project

Proposal Review Process:

The grant approval process consists of a review by readers representing Minnesota State system office staff and other state or education partners, which share common interests in workforce development, corrections, disability services, and career education.

Scoring is based on the evaluation criteria listed below.

Evaluation Criteria

Criteria 1 – The extent to which the application proposes thoughtful, intentional planning, aligns with related public/private partnerships (including educational institutions), provides evidence of strategic direction and collaborative involvement to address success for those involved with corrections or disabilities, and encourages collaboration between public/private partners, which is a priority for this grant.

Criteria 2- The extent to which the proposed project is likely to improve the quality of career technical education-related programming for participants, which will result in providing the target population with upgraded skills and/or increased career exposure and opportunities. The proposal should clearly provide a rationale of the impact on the population to be served.

Criteria 3 – The extent to which the applicant’s budget (1) provides sufficient detail; (2) maximizes the use of available funds to support direct program services; (3) provides evidence of commitment for accountability, and (4) does not supplant existing funds used.

Criteria 4 – The extent to which the application is (1) complete as submitted; (2) demonstrates a set of clearly defined program objectives, consistent with program requirements; (3) proposes definitive, objective, measurable outcomes; (4) provides a feasible evaluation and sustainability plan and provides a feasible timetable and (5) clearly connects to goals for this grant.

Criteria 5 – The proposal details appropriate plans for sharing its project outcomes and practices through collaborative projects, professional development, training, or other impactful measures as defined in the proposal submitted.

Grant Reporting

All grantees that receive funding will be required to submit fiscal and programmatic reports quarterly (approximately December, March, and June for the final report). Grantees will be encouraged to present findings with the intent of sharing practices with educators in career and technical education.

Submitting Applications

Applications will be accepted online. No faxed or emailed applications will be accepted. To apply online, go to Apply Now. It will take you to the online application.

Important Dates

Applications must be received by June 5, 2025.
Recipients will receive initial notification by mid-July 2025.
The grant term is effective approximately September 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Dates are dependent on final signatures for the execution of the grant.