What This Grant Funds

Each year, the Virginia Department of Education awards competitive equipment grants to school divisions with CTE programs that want to bring in genuinely new and innovative technology. The 2026 round distributed $600,000 total, with each winning division receiving $37,500 for equipment purchases. Past winners have used the funds for VR career exploration systems, aerospace training technology, and electric vehicle diagnostic equipment. This is one of the few state programs that explicitly rewards divisions willing to go beyond what they already have and try something new in career and technical education.

Who Can Apply

Virginia public school divisions with established CTE programs are eligible. Applications are coordinated through division CTE administrators, not individual teachers. If your division has a CTE department and you want to bring in new technology for grades 6 through 12, your CTE director or assistant superintendent is the right person to lead the application. Divisions that already received this grant in a recent cycle may face restrictions; check the current RFP when it is released.

How to Apply

VDOE does not post fixed annual dates for this grant. The RFP is typically issued to CTE directors via memo in the fall or winter. Monitor the VDOE CTE administration page and subscribe to VDOE communications to catch the announcement. When the RFP is live, applications require a detailed equipment description, a budget justification showing why the equipment is innovative, and alignment to approved CTE program areas.

Funding Amount

In the 2026 round, each winning division received $37,500. The total pool was $600,000, which means up to 16 divisions received awards. Awards are competitive -- not every applicant wins -- and the grant does not require a local match. Equipment must be purchased within the grant period and cannot be used to replace equipment already available in the program.

How Forward Education Products Qualify

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the CTE Competitive Innovative Program Equipment Grants in Virginia?

Virginia public school divisions with CTE programs serving grades 6 through 12. Applications go through division CTE administrators, not individual teachers or schools.

How much funding is available through the CTE Competitive Innovative Program Equipment Grants?

In 2026, each winning division received $37,500 from a $600,000 total pool. Awards are competitive, and not all applicants receive funding.

Can CTE Competitive Innovative Program Equipment Grant funds be used for STEM and coding tools?

Yes, if the tools are innovative for the division's existing CTE programs. Coding kits, robotics platforms, and engineering design systems that expand what a CTE program currently offers are the type of equipment this grant is designed to fund.

How do Virginia schools apply for the CTE Competitive Innovative Program Equipment Grants?

Watch the VDOE CTE administration page and sign up for VDOE communications. The RFP is typically released in fall or winter. Your division CTE administrator submits the application with an equipment description, budget, and alignment to CTE program areas.

How can Forward Education help with CTE Competitive Innovative Program Equipment Grant funding?

Forward Education provides curriculum alignment documents, official pricing letters for grant budgets, and letters of support for Virginia schools. Our STEM kits are purpose-built to meet the learning outcomes CTE Competitive Innovative Program Equipment Grants fund. Contact us before submitting your application.