Perkins V Recognizes the Importance of Career Exploration — Including the Middle Grades

Career exploration is becoming a bigger part of how schools prepare students for life after graduation.

One reason is Perkins V, the federal law supporting career and technical education. Michigan’s Department of Education explains that Perkins V is focused on increasing learner access to high-quality CTE programs of study.

Perkins V also recognizes that career exploration can begin before high school. Michigan’s Perkins V definitions note that career exploration may happen at the high school level or as early as the middle grades.

That is a big deal.

It means career awareness is not just a “senior year” issue. Schools can help students begin learning about pathways earlier, when they still have time to connect interests with classes, programs, and future opportunities.

But there is an important distinction.

Grad Bridgeway should not be described as something that automatically “qualifies for Perkins funding.” Funding decisions depend on each district, region, approved use, and local needs assessment.

The safer and stronger way to explain it is this:

Grad Bridgeway aligns with the broader career exploration goals schools are already working toward.

Our platform helps schools, CTE leaders, workforce partners, community colleges, and training providers make career pathway information more visible to students. It supports awareness. It supports exploration. It supports repeated exposure.

That makes Grad Bridgeway a helpful companion to existing career readiness work.

Schools already have counselors, CTE directors, career navigators, EDP tools, college access programs, and workforce partners. Grad Bridgeway does not replace any of those. Instead, it creates a daily visibility layer that keeps career options in front of students throughout the school year.

A student might see a message about an apprenticeship in the morning. Later, they may see a reminder about FAFSA. Another day, they may see a local community college pathway or a skilled trade opportunity.

Those repeated messages build awareness over time.

Perkins V helped reinforce the importance of career exploration. Grad Bridgeway helps make that exploration visible in the everyday school environment.