Career Academy Incentive Fund
The Career Academy Incentive Fund from the Iowa Department of Education supports innovative regional career and technical education partnerships between school districts and community colleges.
Funder: Iowa Department of Education
Due Dates: April 18, 2025 | November 13, 2026
Funding Amounts: Up to $1 million per project; total annual funding up to $5 million; typically 1-year awards.
Summary: Supports partnerships between Iowa school districts and community colleges to expand access to high-quality, career-focused education through regional centers.
Key Information: Applications must include at least one school district and one community college; priority given to multi-district regional center proposals.
Description
The Career Academy Incentive Fund, administered by the Iowa Department of Education, provides competitive grants to foster collaboration between Iowa school districts and community colleges. The goal is to expand access to career academy programs delivered through regional centers, supporting pathways that combine concurrent enrollment coursework, career-themed curricula, and robust partnerships with employers and higher education. The Fund emphasizes equitable access to high-quality career and technical education (CTE) and supports infrastructure development, program improvement, and the creation of new career academies that align with workforce needs.
