Fund your CTE pathways. Prove your outcomes.
Perkins V requires documented work-based learning. SUN Youth℠ is the infrastructure that makes every requirement measurable — and every outcome provable.
Everything a graduate needs. Already built.
Each pillar maps to a federal requirement — and to platform features that already exist.
Classroom Instruction
- Academy modules (L1–L3 + Pre-ETS)
- Industry-recognized certification path
- Quiz-based mastery verification
- Enrollment & transcript records
Work-Based Learning
- WorkSphere gig marketplace
- Clock-in / clock-out time logging
- FLSA-compliant age-band matching
- Guardian-supervised safety check-ins
Employability Skills
- Trust Score (reputation ledger)
- Job performance assessments
- Mentor feedback & coaching
- SURE reputation export
Financial Literacy
- Youth financial accounts
- Savings goals & match pledges
- Investment portfolio simulation
- Spending controls & tax records
Family Engagement
- Custodial consent workflow
- Guardian dashboard & family strip
- Real-time activity visibility
- School-year authorization
Post-Grad Outcomes
- Alumni Passport (verified record)
- Youth resume export
- Career portfolio panel
- Documented outcome evidence
Two federal funding streams. One platform.
SUN Youth is fundable through Perkins V (CTE) and Title I Part A (ESSA) — doubling the addressable budget and removing the poverty-only ceiling.
Perkins V (CTE)
~$1.4B / year nationally
All districts with CTE programs
Work-based learning, employability skills, CTE pathway completion
Primary fit — SUN Youth IS a CTE work-based learning platform
Title I Part A (ESSA)
~$16B / year nationally
Schools with poverty threshold (40%+ FRL)
Disadvantaged student academic support
Secondary fit — SUN Youth seats fundable via SWP/TAP
Every federal requirement. Every platform component.
This is the crosswalk your school board, your federal programs director, and your auditor need.
| Federal Requirement | Source | SUN Youth Component | Evidence Produced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work-based learning experiences | Perkins V § 135(b)(3) | WorkSphere, YouthGig, GigCheckIn, YouthTimeLog | Clock-in/out logs, completed gig records, hour accumulation |
| Employability skills development | Perkins V § 3(7) | TrustScore, JobPerformanceAssessment, GigMentorAssignment | Performance ratings, mentor feedback, reliability metrics |
| CTE pathway completion & state alignment | Perkins V § 135(c)(3) | AcademyCertification, AcademyEnrollment, StateCTEProfile | Module completions, certifications, gig → state pathway → 16 national clusters mapping |
| Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA) | Perkins V § 135(b) | CLNAPacket, generateCLNAPacket, StateCLNATemplate | Auto-filled CLNA packet (Focus A–D), stakeholder roster, state template structure |
| Labor-market alignment | Perkins V § 135(b)(4) | StateCTEProfile, OccupationOutlook | Pathway → occupation mapping, growth signals, median wages, annual openings |
| Special populations & equitable access | Perkins V § 3(33), § 135(b)(7) | YouthProfile (consent-gated), CLNAPacket Focus C | De-identified aggregate counts, barrier-elimination strategies (guardian co-sign, escrow, subsidies) |
| Financial literacy as career readiness | Perkins V § 3(5) — career guidance | YouthFinancialAccount, YouthSavingsGoal, YouthInvestmentPortfolio | Account activity, savings progress, investment simulations |
| Family engagement | ESSA § 1116 | GuardianLink, CustodialConsent, GuardianFamilyStrip | Consent records, guardian dashboard activity, oversight logs |
| Labor law compliance for minors | FLSA § 13(l), state labor laws | LaborLawRule, youthComplianceCheck, WorkCompliance | Age-band verification, hour-cap compliance, prohibited-task blocking |
| Post-secondary transition evidence | Perkins V § 113(b)(5) — Perkins reserve | CTECredential, AlumniPassport, YouthResumeExport | CTE Work-Experience Credential (citable college-admissions artifact), verified work history, reputation export |
Can homeschool families use SUN Youth?
A common question — and the answer matters for staying compliant with federal law.
No. Perkins V funds do not flow to individual families or students. They are awarded to eligible recipients — school districts, area CTE centers, consortia, and postsecondary institutions — to improve their CTE programs. A homeschool parent cannot apply for, or be awarded, Perkins dollars for their own child's tutoring, devices, or supplies.
Homeschool students can access CTE programs, including SUN Youth work-based learning, when enrolled through a participating district, area CTE center, or consortium — on the same basis as public school students, where state law permits. The student participates; the funding stays with the eligible recipient running the program. The family never receives a grant.
Equipment and supplies (like Chromebooks) purchased with Perkins funds must serve the CTE program and all enrolled CTE students — they belong to the program or school, not to individual students.
Looking for supplies or tutoring for your homeschool student? Perkins V is not the right funding source. Families should consult their state's homeschool allotment or reimbursement program (where available), Title I equitable-services consultation (for eligible private-school and homeschool students in some states), or local community resources — not Perkins.
This information reflects the federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V). State implementation details vary.
From district sign-up to graduating evidence-ready students
District signs partnership
School district applies via the district portal. Admin reviews and activates within 1–2 business days.
Schools onboard
Each school identifies an ombudsman, signs the MOU, and activates the 6-step onboarding checklist.
Guardians enroll
Families enroll students (ages 12–17) through the guardian flow, which runs inside the school partnership — not standalone.
Students learn & earn
Students complete CTE modules, work supervised gigs, build financial literacy, and accumulate documented hours.
Graduate with evidence
Every student exits with an Alumni Passport — a verified portfolio of work, skills, certifications, and financial competency.
Your Perkins V funding is ready. Your WBL infrastructure is, too.
SUN Youth℠ is the work-based learning program that runs inside your CTE pathways — every component your district needs for Perkins V compliance. No redesign. No recoding. Just deployment.