H.R. 4387 – PREPARE Act

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 7:02 PM UTC

The Providing Rural Equity, Parity, and Reinvestment in Education (PREPARE) Act changes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act to give more federal money to rural schools and other underserved groups. It raises the share of funds set aside for rural areas, expands the types of institutions that can receive money, and adds new definitions to target students who are heavily involved in career‑technical education.

Key Provisions

Increases the rural‑area allocation from 10% to 15% of the Perkins Act funds.
Raises the share for state correctional institutions from 1% to 2% and adds juvenile‑justice and other educational institutions as eligible recipients.
Changes language so funds are “available to assist eligible recipients in providing services.”
Replaces the requirement for a “local plan” with a requirement for “local applications.”
Adds a new focus on fostering innovation and aligning programs with in‑demand occupations.
Creates definitions for “CTE concentrator” (students who complete multiple CTE courses or credits) and “CTE participant” (any student who completes at least one CTE course or credit).

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

November 14, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

November 14, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

November 14, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued November 14, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4387

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 14, 2017

Mr. Duffy introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to increase the allocation for rural areas, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Providing Rural Equity, Parity, and Reinvestment in Education Act or the PREPARE Act.

2.

Within State allocation

Section 112 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2322) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by striking 10 percent and inserting 15 percent;

(B)

in paragraph (2)—

(i)

in subparagraph (A)—

(I)

by striking 1 percent and inserting 2 percent; and

(II)

by striking State correctional institutions and institutions and inserting State correctional institutions, juvenile justice facilities, and educational institutions; and

(ii)

in subparagraph (B), by striking available for services and inserting available to assist eligible recipients in providing services; and

(C)

in paragraph (3)(B), by striking a local plan; and inserting local applications;; and

(2)

in subsection (c)—

(A)

by striking From amounts and inserting the following:

(1)

In general

From amounts

;

(B)

by striking section 135 and all that follows through the end and inserting

section 135—

(A)

in—

(i)

rural areas;

(ii)

areas with high percentages of CTE concentrators or CTE participants; and

(iii)

areas with high numbers of CTE concentrators or CTE participants; and

(B)

in order to—

(i)

foster innovation through the identification and promotion of promising and proven career and technical education programs, practices, and strategies, which may include practices and strategies that prepare individuals for nontraditional fields; or

(ii)

promote the development, implementation, and adoption of programs of study or career pathways aligned with State-identified in-demand occupations or industries.

; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(2)

Definitions

For purposes of this subsection:

(A)

CTE concentrators

The term CTE concentrator means—

(i)

at the secondary school level, a student served by an eligible recipient who has—

(I)

completed three or more career and technical education courses; or

(II)

completed at least two courses in a single career and technical education program or program of study; or

(ii)

at the postsecondary level, a student enrolled in an eligible recipient who has—

(I)

earned at least 12 cumulative credits within a career and technical education program or program of study; or

(II)

completed such a program if the program encompasses fewer than 12 credits or the equivalent in total.

(B)

CTE participant

The term CTE participant means an individual who completes not less than one course or earns not less than one credit in a career and technical education program or program of study of an eligible recipient.

.