Perkins V

Perkins V – Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA)

One of the most significant changes in the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) is the introduction of a comprehensive local needs assessment (CLNA) that requires data-driven decision-making on local spending.

The CLNA process involves a wide group of stakeholders reviewing a number of elements, including student performance data, program quality, labor market needs, educator development and special populations’ access to programs. A CLNA must be completed by local recipients of Perkins funds at the beginning of the grant period and then updated at least once every two years. Community colleges are required to share their CLNA with the IEDRC for vetting with its governing bodies as appropriate.

Links to the region’s CLNA documents can be found here: