PERKINS V ALIGNMENT| National High School BBQ Association®

Perkins V Alignment - Middle School

Last Updated: 12-17-2025

Middle School CTE Integration Through the Live Fire Learning Lab

The Live Fire Learning Lab is a Perkins-eligible, middle school Career & Technical Education (CTE) career exploration model designed to strengthen district CTE pipelines before high school, while aligning to nationally recognized academic, technical, and employability frameworks.

This program is not a club and not competition-driven. It is a standards-aligned instructional lab that integrates CTE, STEM, NGSS, Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), and Career Exploration in a developmentally appropriate, safety-governed environment.

Perkins V®: Purpose-Built for Middle School CTE

Perkins V explicitly supports career exploration in grades 5–8 as part of a coherent CTE pathway. The Live Fire Learning Lab is designed to meet this intent by introducing students to high-skill, high-demand career clusters before pathway selection in high school.

Perkins-allowable uses supported by this model include:

• Career exploration curriculum and instructional materials

• CTE-aligned equipment and lab supplies

• Safety training and instructional protocols

• Professional development for CTE and FCS educators

• Student career artifacts and documentation

Middle School CTE: Early Exposure, Informed Pathway Choice

Middle school is the critical decision window for future CTE participation. This program provides:

• Exposure to real CTE environments and expectations

• Structured roles that mirror workplace functions

• Skill awareness without premature specialization

• Equity of access to hands-on learning experiences

Students exit the program with career awareness, confidence, and documented learning artifacts—not job training—supporting Perkins’ emphasis on informed pathway selection.

Career Clusters Integration

The Live Fire Learning Lab aligns most directly with the Hospitality & Tourism Career Cluster, while also supporting cross-cluster exploration:

• Hospitality & Tourism – food service operations, safety, teamwork

• Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources – protein sourcing, food systems

• Manufacturing / Skilled Trades – equipment use, fabrication concepts, safety culture

• Business & Entrepreneurship – planning, process management, cost awareness

This multi-cluster design allows districts to serve diverse student interests within a single, scalable instructional model.

NGSS & STEM: Applied Science in a Real-World Lab

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) engineering design and physical science concepts are embedded through:

• Heat transfer and thermal energy control

• Data collection (time, temperature, outcomes)

• Design-test-iterate problem solving

• Systems thinking and constraint management

Students experience STEM as applied, observable, and relevant, reinforcing academic standards through authentic use.

Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) Alignment

The program directly supports FCS Food Production and Services competencies by emphasizing:

• Safe food handling and sanitation

• Thermometer-based cooking and documentation

• Kitchen and lab safety procedures

• Professional behavior and teamwork

This makes the Live Fire Learning Lab a natural extension of FCS instruction, particularly for districts expanding middle school offerings.

SEL & Employability Skills

Aligned with CASEL competencies, students practice:

• Self-management in high-attention environments

• Responsible decision-making related to safety and quality

• Communication and collaboration in team roles

• Reflection and accountability through documented outcomes

These skills are explicitly reinforced, not incidental, and are assessed through participation, reflection, and performance.

Career Exploration Outcomes

Students complete the program with:

• Exposure to multiple CTE pathways

• Understanding of workplace expectations

• Documented skill experiences and reflections

• Increased engagement and motivation for high school CTE programs

This directly supports Perkins goals of access, alignment, and sustained participation in CTE.

Designed for District Approval & Grant Compliance

The Live Fire Learning Lab is built with:

• Written safety protocols and supervision structures

• Age-appropriate equipment and methods

• Clear separation between instruction and extracurricular competition

• Scalable implementation from classroom to outdoor lab environments

This ensures the program is grant-defensible, board-appropriate, and audit-ready.

Summary Statement (Pull Quote / Callout)

“The Live Fire Learning Lab strengthens Perkins V outcomes by delivering middle school career exploration that integrates CTE, STEM, NGSS, FCS, and SEL—through a safe, standards-aligned instructional lab that prepares students for informed pathway selection in high school.”

“Our programs integrate CTE, Career Clusters, NGSS, FCS, STEM, and SEL into a single, standards-aligned learning framework that prepares students for informed pathway selection and long-term success.”