Funding
Using Perkins V and Title funds for career exploration
Last reviewed: October 2026
The short answer. Yes, in many districts. Perkins V requires local funds to support career exploration and career development activities, including in the middle grades, which federal law defines as grades 5 through 8. Title funds can also pay for Betabox visits. Your local plan, your state rules, and your federal programs office decide what is allowed, so start there. A Betabox funding strategist can help you match each part of your Blueprint to the right source.
What Perkins V says about career exploration
Perkins V lists the activities local funds must support. The first is career exploration and career development activities "through an organized, systematic framework designed to aid students, including in the middle grades," in making informed plans and decisions about future education and career opportunities. The law names examples, including:
- introductory courses or activities focused on career exploration and career awareness;
- any other activity that advances knowledge of career opportunities;
- providing students with strong experience in, and comprehensive understanding of, all aspects of an industry.
Perkins V also says career and technical education may include career exploration at the high school level or as early as the middle grades. Federal law defines the middle grades as grades 5 through 8 in the Every Student Succeeds Act, Section 8101. Districts planning a full middle school grade can read middle school career exploration.
What decides whether your district can use it
- Your comprehensive local needs assessment. Perkins V spending must tie to the needs your district found in this assessment.
- Your local application. The activity should fit the plan your district filed with the state.
- Grade level. Perkins V career exploration covers the middle grades (5 through 8) and high school. Grade 4 visits need another source, such as Title funds, grants, or a partner.
- No supplanting. Federal funds add to state and local spending. They cannot replace money the district would have spent anyway.
How a Betabox visit lines up
- Career exploration and awareness: students code robots, fly drones, and build circuits while learning about the careers that use those skills.
- Knowledge of career opportunities: CareerStack™ is included with district-funded Onsite Field Trips. It adds reflection surveys, digital badges, and Career Opportunities, which connect students with local employers and colleges through job shadows, internships, and apprenticeships.
- Standards: every experience connects to curriculum standards.
- Evidence for your report: the Vela Institute, an independent evaluator, studied our field trips. Student content knowledge rose from 41% to 53% after one visit. Read the Vela Institute evaluation.
Title funds
Title funds can also pay for Onsite Field Trips when the visit fits your district's plan for those funds. See how schools pay for the other sources districts combine with federal funds.
Bring this to your CTE director
Share your Blueprint, this page, and the Vela Institute evaluation with your CTE director or federal programs office. Then book a district call, and we will help you map each day to a funding source. You can also start from the funding page.
This page explains federal law in plain terms. It is not legal advice. Your state CTE office and your federal programs office make the final call.
Perkins V is often the best fit
- For middle and high school career exploration that your local needs assessment already calls for.
Another source may fit better
- For grade 4 visits, for schools outside your Perkins plan, or when your district has already committed its Perkins funds. In those cases, look at Title funds, grants, and local partners. See how schools pay.
Questions about Perkins V and Title funds
- Can Perkins V pay for middle school career exploration?
- Often, yes. Perkins V requires local funds to support career exploration, including in the middle grades, which federal law defines as grades 5 through 8. Your local needs assessment and state rules decide what is allowed.
- Can Perkins V pay for grade 4?
- Generally no. Perkins V career exploration starts in the middle grades. For grade 4, look at Title funds, grants, or local partners.
- Can Title funds pay for a Betabox visit?
- Yes. Title funds can pay for Onsite Field Trips when the visit fits your district's plan for those funds. Your federal programs office makes the final call.
- What is a comprehensive local needs assessment?
- It is the review each district completes to receive Perkins V funds. Spending must tie to the needs it finds, so check that career exploration is part of yours.
- Can federal funds replace our existing budget?
- No. Federal funds must add to state and local spending, not replace it.
- Will Betabox help us with the paperwork?
- A Betabox funding strategist helps you match each part of your Blueprint to a funding source. Your district files its own Perkins and Title plans.