Iowa Department of Education Awards Nearly $600,000 to 24 Districts to Help High School Students Earn Industry-Recognized Credentials
The Iowa Department of Education, based in Des Moines, the capital of Iowa, announced on October 23 that it has awarded nearly $600,000 in competitive Credentials to Careers grants to 24 Iowa school districts. The grants support districts in creating or expanding secondary career and technical education (CTE) programs aligned to student attainment of state-approved, industry-recognized credentials with labor market value during the 2026-27 school year.
The 24 recipient districts include Ankeny, Iowa City, Linn-Mar, Urbandale and Waterloo, among others. Each district could receive up to $50,000, with award amounts determined by expenditures outlined in each applicant's budget proposal, all of which must be directly related to credential attainment. Allowable costs include student exam fees, instructional equipment, non-consumable instructional supplies, computer equipment and software, internet connections, installation costs and instructor training.
"Since the Credentials to Careers grant program was created by the Department just three years ago, we've directed over $4 million in federal funds for state activities to support learners across 75 school districts as they earn portable, stackable industry-recognized credentials while in high school," said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. "Iowa is preparing students to succeed in high-skill, high-demand jobs here in Iowa, changing lives and strengthening local economies."
Industry-recognized credentials are certifications or licenses vetted by employers and endorsed by nationally recognized trade associations across pathways including health sciences, information technology, construction, manufacturing, child development, culinary and business. Districts had to show how credential attainment would be sustainably integrated into existing CTE pathways, and priority was given to districts that had not previously received the grant. Funding comes from federal Perkins reserve funds under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于 Des Moines 的爱荷华州议会大厦（资料图）。照片：Paul R. Burley，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。Photo: The Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines (file photo). Photo: Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
