Board refused federal career and technical education funding for 2026-27

What happened

On June 29, 2026 the board approved a resolution refusing funds from the state for the Perkins Secondary Consolidated Grant for fiscal year 2027, the federal programme that pays for career and technical education. At the same meeting it accepted other federal money: $4,565,836 under IDEA, $10,276,754 in Title I and $1,035,050 in Title III. The minutes give no reason for declining Perkins.

Why it matters to families

Perkins money pays for the equipment, certifications and teacher training behind high school career programmes. Refusing it is a deliberate choice with consequences for what a Trenton student can train for, and the board record does not say why the district turned it down.

The evidence

The resolution 'approves the Resolution to refuse funds from the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) for The Perkins Secondary Consolidated Grant for Fiscal Year 2027.'

The source