The new comprehensive local needs assessment (CLNA) is one of the most significant changes introduced in the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V). The purpose of the CLNA is to support data-driven decisionmaking and more closely align planning, spending and accountability activities under Perkins V to provide focus at the local level. One of the important decisions states will need to make as they implement this new requirement is how to structure the needs assessment development and submission process among eligible recipients.
Advance CTE convened a Shared Solutions Workgroup – comprised of state and national leaders – charged with developing thoughtful and forward-looking resources that help states maximize the opportunity of the CLNA. As a result of this Workgroup, Advance CTE developed this resource to provide a framework, self-assessment, guidance and key questions to help states considering leveraging the CLNA process to foster regional collaboration – covering the why, what and how of such an approach.
The Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment Shared Solutions Workgroup, convened by Advance CTE with support from the Association for Career and Technical Education, is generously funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
