Narrative: c. 1. A.

Both the Minnesota Department of Education and the Office of the Chancellor require eligible recipients to submit a plan narrative that describes, through goals, strategies and measurable outcomes, those activities that assure members of special populations will have equal access to, and opportunity to be successful in, career and technical education programs. A key goal every eligible recipient must address in the local application plan specifically requires attention to:

• Programs and services for those with the greatest need to ensure participation and completion of CTE programs.
• Ensuring awareness efforts and learner accommodations so that members of special populations will not be discriminated against on the basis of their status.
• Providing members of special populations the same opportunities as other CTE students regarding information about preparing for high-skill, high-wage or high-demand occupations and careers.
• Ensuring that college activities are aligned and coordinated with campus TRIO programs, high school alternative programs and other programs that serve underrepresented students to secure equal access to career and education opportunities.

The goals, strategies, measures, outcomes, and performance targets for members of special population groups are the same as those for the general population. The opportunity to enter CTE programs, services, and activities must be the same for special populations as for the general student population, recognizing that to meet a standard of equal access might require the provision of supports not required by the general population. While such provisions are reviewed for inclusion within state goals in Minnesota (p21, Sec. C2), Perkins recipients must address access and opportunity of special populations within goal four: Improve services to special populations. In addition, data gathered at the sub-indicator level include the special population groups eligible under the Act and these are reviewed to determine continuous improvement strategies and the inclusion of these groups.