,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #acgj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #be1 #bjac ,mrs4 ,murray introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to establish partnerships to create or enhance educational and skills development pathways to #bast century careers1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,promoting ,innovations to #bast ,century ,careers ,act4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents of this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4 ,sec4 #b4 ,findings2 purposes4 ,sec4 #c4 ,definitions4 ,,title ,i--,career pathways grants ,sec4 #aja4 ,state partnership planning grants4 ,sec4 #ajb4 ,state partnership implementation grants4 ,sec4 #ajc4 ,regional partnership subgrants4 ,sec4 #ajd4 ,state partnership transition grants4 ,,title ,,ii--,career pathways partnership supplemental grants ,sec4 #bja4 ,state partnership supplemental grants program authorized4 ,sec4 #bjb4 ,types of supplemental grants4 ,,title ,,iii--,general provisions ,sec4 #cja4 ,establishment of the ,national ,academic and ,career ,innovation ,center4 ,sec4 #cjb4 ,accountability and performance measurement4 ,sec4 #cjc4 ,evaluation and research4 ,sec4 #cjd4 ,benefits and labor standards4 ,sec4 #cje4 ,sunshine provision4 ,sec4 #cjf4 ,authorization of appropriations and distribution4 #b4 ,findings2 purposes 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,a highly skilled and agile workforce is necessary to compete in the global economy and maintain the standard of living of the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,according to a #bjaa report by the ,alliance for ,excellent ,education1 nearly #g1jjj students drop out of high school every day4 ,annually1 #a1bjj1jjj students will not graduate from high school with their peers as scheduled4 7#c7 ,high school dropouts have a high social cost4 ,according to a #bjji study by ,northeastern ,university1 when compared to high school graduates1 high school dropouts will cost the taxpayers an average of #bib1jjj4 ,and for high school dropouts between the ages of #af and #bd1 incarceration rates are #fc times higher than among college graduates4 7#d7 ,according to the ,united ,states ,census ,bureau1 on average a student who drops out of high school will have an annual income #bj1bda4 ,that is #aj1chf less than an individual with a high school diploma1 and #cf1dbd less than an individual with a bachelor's degree4 7#e7 ,according to the ,national ,center for ,education ,statistics1 #ba percent of first-year undergraduate students in the #bjjg-bjjh academic school year reported taking at least one remedial course4 ,twenty-four percent of first-time undergraduate community college students reported taking a least one remedial course4 7#f7 ,according to a #bjaa report by the ,american ,college ,testing ,program 7,,act71 by #bjah1 #cj1jjj1jjj new and replacement jobs will require some postsecondary education4 ,the current decline in postsecondary credential attainment threatens the ability of ,american businesses to compete globally4 ,currently1 about #ij1jjj1jjj ,americans 7half of the ,u4,s4 workforce7 lack the skills required to function well in the global economy or to earn family sustaining wages4 7#g7 ,according to the findings of a #bjjf study conducted by the ,american ,college ,testing ,program 7,,act71 the skills required for high school students to be ready to successfully enter postsecondary education and to enter workforce training programs are comparable4 ,the report found that high school graduates need a comparable level of readiness in reading and mathematics to enter college-level courses without remediation and to enter workforce training programs in jobs that are likely to offer family-supporting wages and the potential for career advancement4 7#h7 ,according to a #bjjc report for the ,educational ,testing ,service1 about #dj percent of ,american adults do not have skills typical of those with some college1 but the fastest job growth will occur in those jobs in which incumbent workers currently have skill levels reflecting at least some postsecondary education4 7#i7 ,an increase in a country's overall level of educational attainment leads to an increase in its overall rate of economic growth4 ,according to a #bjji ,mckinsey ,company report1 if the ,united ,states had in recent years closed the gap between its educational achievement levels and those of better-performing nations such as ,finland and ,korea1 gross domestic product in #bjjh could have been #a1cjj1jjj1jjj to #b1cjj1jjj1jjj higher4 ,this represents #i to #af percent of gross domestic product4 7#aj7 ,according to the ,american ,college ,testing ,program's 7,,act7 analysis of the data from a #bjji ,organization for ,economic ,co-operation and ,development repot1 if current trends in postsecondary credential attainment continue for the ,united ,states1 the next generation of ,american workers will be less educated than the previous generation for the first time in the history of the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are-- 7#a7 to increase the graduation rate of students from high school2 7#b7 to increase the number of high school students prepared with #bast century skills for college-level work and workforce development after graduation from secondary school2 7#c7 to improve the long-term labor market prospects for young people2 7#d7 to establish ,state and regional partnerships among education1 business1 labor1 and workforce and economic development leaders for the purposes of-- 7,a7 creating or enhancing educational pathways for high school students to postsecondary education1 including registered apprenticeship programs1 and to #bast century careers2 7,b7 aligning the requirements for successfully exiting secondary education and entering postsecondary education and workforce development2 and 7,c7 developing a coherent vision for community development that complements and coordinates ongoing and new efforts in education and workforce and economic development2 7#e7 to increase the use of industry-based skill standards1 such as those certifications developed by the ,manufacturing ,skill ,standards ,council and the ,national ,institute for ,metalworking ,skills2 and 7#f7 to increase the number of highly skilled and agile workers available to employers1 particularly in high skill1 high demand industries4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,at-risk youth ,the term at-risk youth means a high school student who-- 7,a7 is economically disadvantaged1 as determined by the student being-- 7i7 eligible for free or reduced price lunch under the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agea et seq472 7ii7 eligible to receive medical assistance under the ,state ,medicaid program established under title ,,xix of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif et seq472 or 7iii7 a member of a family receiving assistance under the ,state program funded under part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fja et seq472 7,b7 is at risk for academic failure2 7,c7 is a student with disabilities2 7,d7 is a student who is a homeless child or youth1 as defined in section #gbe of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aadcd;a72 7,e7 is a migrant student or a student with limited ,english proficiency2 7,f7 is a youth offender2 or 7,g7 is in foster care or is aging out of the foster care system4 7#b7 ,board ,the term ,board means the ,national ,academic and ,career ,innovation ,center ,board established under section #cja7;d74 7#c7 ,career pathway ,the term career pathway means a rigorous1 engaging1 and high-quality set of courses and services that-- 7,a7 includes an articulated sequence of academic and career courses1 including #bast century skills2 7,b7 is aligned with the needs of high skill1 high demand industries in a region or ,state2 7,c7 prepares students for entry into the full range of postsecondary education options1 including registered apprenticeships1 and careers2 7,d7 provides academic and career counseling in student-to-counselor ratios that allow students to make informed decisions about academic and career options2 7,e7 meets ,state academic standards1 ,state requirements for secondary school graduation and is aligned with requirements for entry into postsecondary education1 and applicable industry standards2 and 7,f7 leads to #b or more credentials1 including-- 7i7 a secondary school diploma2 and 7ii7 a postsecondary degree1 an apprenticeship or other occupational certification1 a certificate1 or a license4 7#d7 ,center ,the term ,center means the ,national ,academic and ,career ,innovation ,center established under section #cja4 7#e7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,national ,academic and ,career ,innovation ,center4 7#f7 ,dropout recovery ,the term dropout recovery means a wide range of effective efforts to provide former high school students who did not graduate from secondary school in a standard number of years with an opportunity to earn a secondary school diploma and continue onto postsecondary education4 7#g7 ,high school student ,the term high school student means a student who is enrolled in a public secondary school-- 7,a7 in one of grades #i through #ab2 or 7,b7 in the case of a student enrolled in a secondary school approved by a ,state to issue a regular diploma concurrently with a postsecondary degree or with not more than #b years' worth of postsecondary academic credit1 in grade #ac4 7#h7 ,high skill1 high demand industry 7,a7 ,in general ,the term high skill1 high demand industry means an industry that-- 7i7 has a significant current or potential impact on the regional economy overall2 7ii7 brings net dollars into a region or is critical to attracting and sustaining businesses within the industry2 7iii7 stimulates the growth of other supporting businesses1 or the growth of other industries or economic sectors within the region2 7iv7 provides workers with competitive and family-supporting wages and benefits that increase the strength and vitality of the entire regional economy2 and 7v7 provides opportunities for career advancement4 7,b7 ,determination ,the determination of whether an industry is a high skill1 high demand industry shall be made using ,state or regional business and labor market projections and an analysis of real time data derived from labor market transactions4 7#i7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#aj7 ,local educational agency ,the term local educational agency has the meaning given the term in section #iaja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#aa7 ,one-stop center ,the term one-stop center means a one-stop center described in section #acd7;c7 of the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhfd7;c774 7#ab7 ,pathways grants ,the term pathways grants means the grants authorized under title ,i 7excluding section #ajc7 and title ,,ii4 7#ac7 ,postsecondary education ,the term postsecondary education means-- 7,a7 not less than a #a-year program of instruction offered by an institution of higher education that is acceptable for credit toward an associate or a baccalaureate degree2 or 7,b7 a certificate or registered apprenticeship program at the postsecondary level offered by an institution of higher education or a nonprofit educational institution4 7#ad7 ,regional partnership ,the term regional partnership means a regional pathways partnership receiving funds under section #ajc4 7#ae7 ,registered apprenticeship program ,the term registered apprenticeship program means an industry skills training program at the postsecondary level that combines technical and theoretical training through structured on-the-job learning with related instruction 7in classrooms or through distance learning7 while an individual is employed1 working under the direction of qualified personnel or a mentor1 and earning incremental wage increases aligned to enhanced job proficiency1 resulting in the acquisition of a nationally recognized and portable certificate1 under a plan approved by the ,office of ,apprenticeship or a ,state agency recognized by the ,department of ,labor4 7#af7 ,secondary school ,the term secondary school has the meaning given the term in section #iaja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#ag7 ,state ,the term ,state means each of the several ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 and the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4 7#ah7 ,state educational agency ,the term ,state educational agency has the meaning given the term in section #iaja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#ai7 ,state ,p-#af or ,p-#bj ,council ,the term ,state ,p-#af or ,p-#bj ,council means a body of public officials and public and private sector leaders that-- 7,a7 is established by a ,state executive order1 statute1 or voluntary agreement and may be regularly chaired or co-chaired by the ,governor of the ,state2 7,b7 sets formal1 aligned expectations for a seamless system of education from the earliest years of a child's development through the kindergarten through grade #ab system and into and through postsecondary education2 7,c7 acts as a venue for collaboration across early learning1 including preschool 7the ,p7 through the first #d years of higher education 7the #af7 or through doctoral and professional schools 7the #bj72 and 7,d7 receives ,state1 foundation1 business1 or other funding to carry out the body's agenda4 7#bj7 ,state partnership ,the term ,state partnership means a ,state pathways partnership as established or appointed under section #aja7;b77#a74 7#ba7 ,state workforce investment board ,the term ,state workforce investment board has the meaning given the term ,state board in section #aja of the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhja74 7#bb7 ,work-based experience ,the term work-based experience means an activity for high school students1 postsecondary students1 or teachers that provides career knowledge1 skills1 and abilities1 including job-shadowing and internships4 ,i ,career pathways grants #aja4 ,state partnership planning grants 7a7 ,grants authorized 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director is authorized to award planning grants to eligible ,state partnerships for the purpose of enabling the ,state partnerships to complete comprehensive planning to carry out activities establishing career pathways4 7#b7 ,grant period ,a planning grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of not more than #a year4 7#c7 ,maximum amount ,a planning grant awarded under this section may not be more than #bej1jjj4 7#d7 ,nonrenewability ,the ,director shall not award a ,state partnership more than #a planning grant under this section4 7b7 ,eligibility 7#a7 ,in general ,an entity shall be a ,state pathways partnership for purposes of this ,act if the entity-- 7,a7 has been established as the ,state pathways partnership by the ,governor of a ,state and is composed of the members described in paragraph 7#c72 or 7,b7 has been appointed by the ,governor of a ,state as the ,state pathways partnership under paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,appointment of organization ,the ,governor may appoint an existing education1 workforce1 or economic development organization1 such as the ,state workforce investment board1 the ,state ,p-#af or ,p-#bj ,council1 a joint labor-management partnership organization1 or a business-education partnership1 as the ,state pathways partnership for purposes of this ,act if the organization-- 7,a7 includes1 or modifies the members of the organization to include1 the representatives required under paragraph 7#c77;,a72 or 7,b7 establishes a subcommittee that includes such representatives and uses such subcommittee to carry out the duties of the ,state partnership under this ,act4 7#c7 ,partners 7,a7 ,required partners ,a ,state pathways partnership shall include a representative from each of the following3 7i7 ,public secondary education1 who shall be the chief ,state school officer4 7ii7 ,a public #b-year institution of higher education4 7iii7 ,a public #d-year institution of higher education4 7iv7 ,a business and trade organization4 7v7 ,an economic development entity4 7vi7 ,the ,state workforce investment board4 7vii7 ,the ,state employment security agency4 7viii7 ,the recognized ,state federation of labor4 7ix7 ,a joint apprenticeship and training committee4 7x7 ,a labor organization that represents teachers4 7xi7 ,the ,state ,p-#af or ,p-#bj ,council1 if such a council exists in the ,state4 7,b7 ,other partners ,a ,state pathways partnership may include other members1 such as-- 7i7 additional representatives described in subparagraph 7,a72 7ii7 additional representatives of public secondary education1 such as the chief ,state school officer responsible for career and technical education2 or 7iii7 nontraditional participants1 including representatives from philanthropic organizations or members of regional partnerships4 7#d7 ,state authority ,the ,governor of a ,state receiving a planning grant under this section has the authority to appoint a fiscal and an administrative agent for the ,state partnership4 7c7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,each ,state partnership desiring a planning grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,director at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such information as the ,director may reasonably require4 7#b7 ,contents ,each application submitted under this subsection shall-- 7,a7 describe the members of the ,state partnership2 7,b7 describe the activities for which assistance under this section is sought1 including the process by which the applicable industry standards for a career pathway supported under the grant will be identified and considered2 7,c7 describe proposed performance benchmarks to be used to measure progress under the planning grant2 7,d7 provide a budget for use of funds to complete required activities in section 7d72 and 7,e7 provide such additional assurances and information as the ,director determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section4 7#c7 ,performance benchmarks ,before a ,state partnership receives a planning grant under this section1 the ,state partnership and the ,director shall jointly determine the performance benchmarks that shall be established for the purposes of the planning grant4 7d7 ,required activities ,a ,state partnership receiving funds under this subsection shall carry out all of the following3 7#a7 ,analyze ,state labor market information in order to create career pathways and carry out the purposes of this ,act4 7#b7 ,identify and agree on ,state or regional high skill1 high demand industries for the purposes of planning career pathways4 7#c7 ,identify existing ,federal1 ,state1 and private resources for youth development and plan to leverage other existing ,federal1 ,state1 and private resources to strengthen partnerships and implementation grant activities4 7#d7 7,a7 ,provide a description of existing 7as of the time of the application7-- 7i7 ,state academic standards for secondary school graduation and industry standards2 7ii7 ,state requirements for secondary school graduation and entry requirements for postsecondary education2 7iii7 ,state policies or models for career and guidance counseling2 and 7iv7 career pathway-related programs and activities for secondary school students1 such as programs of study under the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcja et seq471 or early college or dual enrollment programs4 7,b7 ,a ,state partnership may use an already completed review of the information described in subparagraph 7,a7 that has been completed by the ,state ,p-#af or ,p-#bj ,council1 or other entity recognized by the ,state1 if the review is not more than #b years old4 ,if the review does not contain all of the information required in clauses 7i7 through 7iv7 of subparagraph 7,a71 the ,state partnership shall complete the missing components4 7#e7 ,plan for the alignment of ,state requirements for secondary school graduation and entry to postsecondary education4 7#f7 ,identify possible areas in which statewide teacher and administration professional development or teacher certification related to promising practices in career pathways will be needed and plan for such professional development4 7#g7 ,plan for and create a ,state partnership implementation plan to submit to the ,center4 7#h7 ,determine the criteria for selecting regional partnerships for implementation subgrants in accordance with section #ajb7;e77#a71 which-- 7,a7 will incorporate the concepts of career pathways and high skill1 high demand industries2 and 7,b7 may incorporate criteria such as low graduation rates and low academic achievement in the schools served by the regional partnership4 7e7 ,matching requirement ,each ,state partnership receiving a planning grant under this section shall provide an amount1 in cash or in-kind1 that is not less than #ae percent of the amount of the grant1 to carry out the activities supported by the grant4 ,the matching requirement under this subsection may be provided from funds available from other ,federal1 ,state1 local1 or private sources to carry out such activities4 7f7 ,reporting requirement ,not later than #a year after an eligible ,state partnership receives a planning grant under this section1 the partnership shall submit a report to the ,director on the ,state's performance of the activities described in subsection 7d74 ,the report shall include-- 7#a7 a description of the use of funds1 including matching funds required under subsection 7e71 to carry out required activities under subsection 7d72 and 7#b7 a description of the progress of the ,state partnership in meeting the performance benchmarks under subsection 7c77#c74 #ajb4 ,state partnership implementation grants 7a7 ,grants authorized 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director is authorized to award implementation grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible ,state partnerships described in subsection 7c7 to enable the ,state partnerships to establish or enhance career pathways4 7#b7 ,grant period ,an implementation grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of not more than #e years4 7#c7 ,nonrenewability 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,director shall not award a ,state partnership more than #a implementation grant under this section except as provided in subparagraph 7,b74 7,b7 ,exception ,in cases where the ,director determines that the ,state partnership is high performing and the activities supported by the ,state partnership warrant additional grant funding1 the ,director may continue to provide funding to a ,state partnership through a transition grant under section #ajd4 7b7 ,use of funds ,an eligible ,state partnership that receives an implementation grant under this section-- 7#a7 may reserve not more than #bj percent of the grant funds to carry out the activities described in paragraphs 7#b7 through 7#e7 of subsection 7e72 and 7#b7 shall use not less than #hj percent of the grant funds to make subgrants to regional partnerships in accordance with subsection 7e77#a74 7c7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible for an implementation grant under this section1 a ,state partnership described in section #aja7;b7 shall have-- 7#a7 received a planning grant under section #aja and completed all requirements of such grant2 or 7#b7 completed a satisfactory application1 including a plan to coordinate with required partners and complete the required activities described in section #aja7;d7 during the #e-year period of an implementation grant under this section4 7#c7 ,state partnership authority ,a ,state partnership receiving an implementation grant under this section shall appoint a fiscal and an administrative agent for the implementation of such grant4 7d7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,each eligible ,state partnership desiring an implementation grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,director at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such information as the ,director may reasonably require4 7#b7 ,contents ,each application submitted under this subsection shall include-- 7,a7 a description of the members of the ,state partnership2 7,b7 a description of how the ,state partnership completed the required activities described in section #aja7;d71 if applicable or1 in the case of a ,state partnership that has not completed such activities1 a description of how the ,state partnership plans to complete such activities1 including a description of the process by which career pathways will be selected and any applicable industry standards for the career pathways will be identified and considered2 7,c7 a description of the activities for which assistance under this section is sought1 including a description of the career pathways that will be supported by such activities2 7,d7 a description of how the ,state partnership will coordinate with required partners and complete the required partnership activities described in subsection 7e7 over the #e-year duration of an implementation grant awarded under this section2 7,e7 a budget proposal of the cost of the activities supported by the implementation grant1 and a timeline for the provision of the matching funds required under subsection 7f72 7,f7 proposed performance measures in accordance with section #cjb to be used to assess and evaluate the progress of the career pathways activities of regional partnerships2 7,g7 a description of how the ,state partnership will collect long-term aggregated data on students assisted under the implementation grant1 in accordance with section #ddd of the ,general ,education ,provisions ,act 7the ,family ,educational ,rights and ,privacy ,act of #aigd7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #abcb;g71 for purposes of reporting progress in grant activities2 and 7,h7 such additional assurances as the ,director determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section4 7e7 ,required activities ,an eligible ,state partnership receiving an implementation grant under this section shall-- 7#a7 award subgrants to eligible regional partnerships in accordance with section #ajc2 7#b7 develop and implement coherent1 early1 and sustained statewide academic and career guidance strategies linked to high skill1 high demand industries2 7#c7 collect data from regional partnerships on the performance measures selected by the partnership and ,director in accordance with section #cjb for career pathways activities carried out by the regional partnerships2 7#d7 convene the ,state partnership members on a regular basis1 and at least on a semiannual basis2 7#e7 assist regional partnerships to create coherent career pathways1 including the provision of technical assistance and capacity building activities1 such as the dissemination of best practices and tools within the ,state2 7#f7 provide any necessary statewide teacher and school administrator professional development related to career pathways and coordinate with existing professional development efforts or activities2 7#g7 in consultation with regional partnerships1 make recommendations on ,state and local policies to foster the development of career pathways for high school students2 and 7#h7 in coordination with regional partnerships1 conduct ongoing studies to continuously improve career pathways1 including testing innovative approaches1 within the ,state in order to achieve high level performance and to maximize coordination of the studies with the ,center's studies under title ,,iii4 7f7 ,matching requirement 7#a7 ,in general ,each ,state partnership receiving an implementation grant under this section shall provide an amount1 in cash or in-kind1 that is not less than #be percent of the amount of the grant1 to carry out the activities supported by the grant4 ,the matching requirement under this subsection may be provided from funds available from other ,federal1 ,state1 local1 or private sources to carry out such activities4 7#b7 ,timing of matching contribution ,an eligible ,state partnership may satisfy the matching requirement of an implementation grant awarded under this section at any time during the #e-year duration of the grant1 as specified in the budget proposal that is submitted in the application process and approved by the ,director4 7g7 ,reporting requirement ,for each year of the grant period1 each eligible ,state partnership receiving an implementation grant under this section shall submit a report to the ,director on the ,state's performance of the activities described in subsection 7e74 ,each report shall include-- 7#a7 a description of the use of funds1 including matched funds1 to complete required activities under subsection 7d72 and 7#b7 a description of the performance of the ,state partnership in meeting the performance measures under section #cjb4 #ajc4 ,regional partnership subgrants 7a7 ,in general ,the administrative agent appointed under section #ajb7;c77#c7 by a ,state partnership receiving an implementation grant under such section shall1 on behalf of the ,state partnership1 award subgrants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible regional partnerships to enable the eligible regional partnerships to establish or enhance career pathways4 7b7 ,eligibility for subgrants 7#a7 ,required partners ,in order for a regional area of a ,state served by a ,state partnership receiving an implementation grant under section #ajb to participate in the subgrant program under this section1 the regional area shall form a regional pathways partnership that includes a representative from each of the following3 7,a7 ,public secondary education1 who may be a representative of a local educational agency4 7,b7 ,postsecondary education1 including public #b-year and #d-year postsecondary education institutions4 7,c7 ,a business or trade organization4 7,d7 ,the local workforce investment board 7meaning a local board1 as defined in section #aja of the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhja774 7,e7 ,an economic development entity4 7,f7 ,local elected officials4 7,g7 ,a central labor council4 7,h7 ,a labor organization that represents teachers4 7,i7 ,high school students and postsecondary education students4 7,j7 ,parents or legal guardians of high school students and postsecondary education students4 7,k7 ,a community-based organization that is relevant to career pathways4 7#b7 ,other partners ,a regional partnership may include other members1 such as additional representatives described in paragraph 7#a71 representatives of educational service agencies1 or nontraditional participants1 including representatives from philanthropic organizations4 7#c7 ,designation ,a regional area may agree to designate an existing education1 workforce1 or economic development organization such as a local workforce investment board1 regional economic development authority1 joint labor management partnership organization1 or business-education partnership1 as the regional pathways partnership for purposes of this ,act if the organization-- 7,a7 includes1 or modifies the members of the organization to include1 the representatives required under paragraph 7#a72 or 7,b7 establishes a subcommittee that includes such representatives and uses such subcommittee to carry out the duties of the regional partnership under this ,act4 7c7 ,regional partnership authority ,a regional partnership shall choose an entity to be the fiscal agent and an entity to be the administrative agent for the subgrant funds received under this section4 7d7 ,application for subgrant 7#a7 ,in general ,each regional partnership desiring a subgrant under this section shall submit an application to the ,state partnership at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such information as the ,state partnership may reasonably require4 7#b7 ,contents ,each application submitted pursuant to this subsection shall include-- 7,a7 a description of the activities for which assistance under this section is sought1 including activities to address the needs of at-risk youth2 7,b7 7i7 a description of the career pathways1 including the applicable industry standards used for the career pathways1 that will be supported by such activities1 including1 as applicable1 a description of the types of industry certification assessments to be funded under subsection 7f77#a72 and 7ii7 information describing how the partnership incorporates the concepts of the career pathways and high skill1 high demand industries2 7,c7 proposed performance measures in accordance with section #cjb to be used to assess and evaluate the progress of the career pathways activities under this section2 7,d7 a budget for use of funds to complete the required activities in subsection 7e72 7,e7 a definition of the geographic boundaries of the region to be served by the career pathways initiatives1 including whether the region is-- 7i7 a local workforce investment area established under section #aaf of the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhca72 7ii7 an economic development area as defined by the ,state2 or 7iii7 justified on other criteria1 including-- 7,i7 the alignment of labor market areas2 7,,ii7 school districts and education service agencies2 7,,iii7 postsecondary educational institutions and area career and technical schools2 7,,iv7 geographic distances2 or 7,v7 regional resources that are available to effectively administer the activities carried out under this section2 7,f7 a description of how meetings of the regional partnership will be convened on a regular basis2 7,g7 an assurance that employers providing student work-based experiences will provide or arrange for the necessary liability coverage as determined by the participating secondary schools2 and 7,h7 such additional assurances as the ,state partnership determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section4 7e7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,reservation of amounts ,of the subgrant amount received by an eligible regional partnership under this section-- 7,a7 not less than #he percent of the subgrant funds shall be used to carry out the activities described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d7 of paragraph 7#b72 and 7,b7 a total of not more than #ae percent of the subgrant funds shall be spent to-- 7i7 carry out the activities described in subparagraphs 7,e7 through 7,g7 of paragraph 7#b72 7ii7 pay for the costs associated with the fiscal or administrative agent2 or 7iii7 sustain the regional partnership4 7#b7 ,required activities ,a regional partnership receiving a subgrant under this section shall use subgrant funds to-- 7,a7 establish or enhance career pathways for high school students in high skill1 high demand industries2 7,b7 establish or designate an intermediary with demonstrated experience in working with schools serving high school students1 postsecondary education1 and the workforce delivery system1 and within the partnership area that shall under financial agreement with the regional partnership-- 7i7 coordinate career pathways activities2 7ii7 conduct community outreach and informational activities related to career pathways2 7iii7 consider the needs of individual school districts in the regional partnership area2 7iv7 identify academic and career counseling options and resources 7such as the one-stop career center career services1 including resources and services funded under the ,wagner-,peyser ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #di et seq477 to counsel students and the students' families in the development of career pathways plans to ensure that students' course crediting and content requirements for secondary school graduation and entrance into postsecondary education are aligned and that shall have a ratio of students to counselors of not more than #a3aej2 and 7v7 develop work-based experiences for high school students and teachers2 7,c7 train and provide professional development to individuals providing academic and career counseling options in the area served by the regional partnership1 or designate the intermediary described in subparagraph 7,b7 to provide such training and professional development2 7,d7 develop and implement a dropout recovery strategy for entry into career pathways for former high school students who have dropped out of school2 7,e7 complete a community asset map or build upon an existing analysis of resources by workforce boards or other entities to identify those existing resources that can be leveraged in a region and the gaps that need to be addressed to strengthen connections between effective education and career success2 7,f7 coordinate with existing support services for students2 and 7,g7 track and report on the progress of the regional partnership in meeting performance goals negotiated with the ,state partnership4 7f7 ,optional activities ,a regional partnership receiving a subgrant under this section may-- 7#a7 provide funds for student fees and books and equipment fees associated with completing industry certification assessments1 or examinations for ,advanced ,placement and ,international ,baccalaureate courses1 for high school students who are at or below #bjj percent of the ,federal poverty level line1 in order to support a career pathway in a high skill1 high demand industry for such students2 7#b7 provide funds for costs associated with student work-based experiences in high skill1 high demand industries1 except that no such funds shall be used to pay wages2 7#c7 create #a-to-#a mentorships between the most at-risk youth in a career pathway and responsible1 supportive adults within the region as identified by the regional partnership2 7#d7 assist students in identifying and completing financial aid applications for postsecondary education2 and 7#e7 provide funds to expand the scope of career services for career pathway students offered by one-stop centers within the region4 7g7 ,reporting requirement ,for each year of the grant period1 each eligible regional partnership receiving a subgrant under this section shall submit a report to the ,state partnership on the partnership's performance on the activities described in subsection 7e74 ,each report shall include-- 7#a7 a description of the use of funds1 including any matched funds1 to complete the required activities under subsection 7e72 and 7#b7 a description of the performance of the partnership in meeting the performance measures1 as described in section #cjb consistent with section #ddd of the ,general ,education ,provisions ,act4 #ajd4 ,state partnership transition grants 7a7 ,grants authorized 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director is authorized to award transition grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible ,state partnerships described in subsection 7b7 to enable the ,state partnerships to continue successful career pathways programs1 while increasing ,state and regional investment and gradually decreasing ,federal funds4 7#b7 ,grant period ,a transition grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of not more than #c years4 7#c7 ,nonrenewability ,the ,director shall not award a ,state partnership more than #a transition grant under this section4 7b7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible for a transition grant under this section1 a ,state partnership shall have received an implementation grant under section #ajb and satisfactorily completed all requirements of such grant4 7c7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,each eligible ,state partnership desiring a transition grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,director at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such information as the ,director may reasonably require4 7#b7 ,contents ,each application submitted under this subsection shall provide-- 7,a7 a description of the activities for which assistance under this section is sought2 7,b7 a description of how the ,state partnership has made progress on the activities described in section #ajb7;e72 7,c7 description of how the ,state partnership will coordinate with required partners and complete the required partnership activities described in subsection 7d7 over the duration of a grant awarded under this section2 7,d7 a budget proposal of the cost of the activities supported by the transition grant1 and a timeline for the provision of the matching funds required under subsection 7e72 7,e7 proposed performance measures in accordance with section #cjb to be used to assess and evaluate the progress of the activities of ,state partnerships under this section2 and 7,f7 such additional assurances as the ,director determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section4 7d7 ,activities ,a ,state partnership receiving a transition grant under this section-- 7#a7 shall use grant funds to continue the activities required under section #ajb7;e72 and 7#b7 may use grant funds to expand career exploration and guidance activities to students in grades lower than grade #i1 with priority given to serving such students who are at risk of failure to graduate1 based on indicators for middle school students predictive of whether or not a student is on track to graduate from secondary school with a regular diploma4 7e7 ,matching requirement 7#a7 ,in general ,each ,state partnership receiving a transition grant under this section shall provide1 from funds available from other ,federal1 ,state1 local1 or private sources to carry out the activities supported by the transition grant-- 7,a7 for the first year of the grant1 an amount that is not less than #be percent of the amount of the grant for such year2 7,b7 for the second year of the grant1 an amount that is not less than #ej percent of the amount of the grant for such year2 and 7,c7 for the third year of the grant1 an amount that is not less than #ge percent of the amount of the grant for such year4 7#b7 ,use and type of matching funds ,the matching funds required under paragraph 7#a7 may be provided in cash or in-kind and shall be used to carry out the activities supported by the transition grant under this section4 7f7 ,reporting ,requirement ,for each year of the grant period1 each eligible ,state partnership receiving a transition grant under this section shall submit a report to the ,director on the ,state's performance of the activities described in subsection 7d74 ,each report shall include-- 7#a7 a description of the use of funds1 including matched funds1 to complete the required activities described in subsection 7d72 and 7#b7 a description of the performance of the ,state partnership in meeting the performance measures1 as described in section #cjb4 ,,ii ,career pathways partnership supplemental grants #bja4 ,state partnership supplemental grants program authorized 7a7 ,purposes ,the purposes of this title are-- 7#a7 to enhance the capacity of ,states and regions to offer career pathways to high school students2 7#b7 to enhance one-stop career services for youth to more effectively provide career exploration and guidance services to high school students and postsecondary students2 and 7#c7 to increase the number of registered apprenticeship programs in high skill1 high demand industries4 7b7 ,grants authorized ,the ,director is authorized to award1 on a competitive basis1 supplemental grants described in section #bjb to ,states to enable the ,states to carry out the activities described in such section4 7c7 ,duration of grant ,each eligible ,state receiving a grant under this title shall use the grant funds within a #e-year period1 as designated by the ,director4 7d7 ,non-,renewability ,an eligible ,state may not receive more than #a grant under each subsection of section #bjb4 #bjb4 ,types of supplemental grants 7a7 ,career pathways curriculum development grants 7#a7 ,purposes ,the purposes of a grant under this subsection are-- 7,a7 to increase the number of innovative1 high quality1 rigorous1 engaging1 and relevant career pathways curricula available for the purpose of instructing high school students through the development of new1 or enhancement of existing1 model courses of study focused on high skill1 high demand industries2 7,b7 to support the development of career pathways curricula that develop and reinforce reading and mathematics skills for high school students1 including through the real world application of academics2 and 7,c7 to establish teacher training processes that will provide effective professional development in the application of each career pathways course sequence assisted under this subsection4 7#b7 ,applications 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,governor of a ,state1 in partnership with the ,state partnership serving the ,state1 may submit an application for a curriculum grant under this subsection to the ,director at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,director may require4 7,b7 ,peer review ,applications for a curriculum grant under this subsection shall be peer reviewed by a panel of experts in curriculum development1 career pathways or career and technical education1 and workforce development and industry4 7,c7 ,contents ,each application submitted under this paragraph shall-- 7i7 be submitted during the period that the ,state partnership serving the ,state is receiving an implementation grant under section #ajb2 7ii7 demonstrate a need for the curriculum grant2 7iii7 describe the activities for which assistance under this subsection is sought1 including-- 7,i7 how the applicant will carry out the activities described in paragraph 7#d72 7,,ii7 how the applicant will include the industry standards of the relevant industries in the development of the curriculum and1 in the case of an applicant using grant funds to carry out paragraph 7#e77;,a71 the industry certificates to be used2 7,,iii7 how the applicant will collaborate with and incorporate input from representatives from the ,state partnership members in the development of the curriculum2 and 7,,iv7 the research or evidence that supports the key curriculum theories and activities of the proposed career pathways curriculum2 7iv7 include a budget of the cost of the project and a timeline for the provision of the matching funds required under paragraph 7#f72 7v7 include a description of the performance benchmarks to be used to measure the development1 implementation1 distribution1 and professional development concerning career pathways curriculum2 7vi7 provide an assurance that curricula and other products or materials developed under this ,act will be made available to the ,center for distribution2 and 7vii7 provide such additional assurances as the ,director determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this title4 7#c7 ,fiscal and administration agent ,the ,governor of a ,state receiving a curriculum grant under this subsection shall appoint the ,state educational agency to serve as the fiscal agent and administer the grant funds4 7#d7 ,required activities ,a ,state receiving a curriculum grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds-- 7,a7 to develop a curriculum with industry engagement that-- 7i7 provides a logical sequence of integrated academic and career-related coursework focused on a specific high skill1 high demand industry and meets regional or national workforce needs2 7ii7 incorporates rigorous academic content from core academic subjects1 as defined in section #iaja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja71 in a majority of the courses within each curricular sequence of study1 so that a majority of courses are eligible for academic credit1 and links the material in each course to ,state academic content standards2 7iii7 provides academic rigor to career pathways courses2 7iv7 emphasizes the development of communication skills1 such as reading1 writing1 speaking1 mathematic1 and science skills across all courses and provides for the development of work readiness skills and #bast century work skills1 including problem solving skills1 communication skills1 analytic skills1 time management1 teamwork1 and technological prowess2 7v7 provides knowledge of all aspects of an industry2 7vi7 uses best practices within curriculum development theory1 including rigorous standards1 higher order thinking skills1 real world applications1 project-based learning1 contextual learning1 and other practices2 7vii7 incorporates opportunities for work-based experience within each career pathways course sequence2 and 7viii7 prepares high school students for postsecondary education and skills development programs2 7,b7 to create curriculum materials and instructional resources that will support the teaching and learning of the career pathways curriculum developed under this subsection2 and 7,c7 to develop a statewide teacher professional development implementation plan that will describe the model of professional development used for teacher training1 including courses that will increase the capacity of teachers to effectively implement the career pathways curriculum developed under this subsection1 and a description of the costs of such a program4 7#e7 ,optional use of funds ,in addition to the required activities under subsection 7g71 a ,state receiving a grant under this subsection may use the grant funds-- 7,a7 to create career and technical education course sequences that lead to an industry certificate2 7,b7 to develop and include transitional mathematics and reading courses for students who struggle to meet the academic requirements necessary to enter and successfully complete postsecondary education or workforce development2 or 7,c7 to provide options for high school students to concurrently earn college credit through establishing college course articulation agreements4 7#f7 ,matching requirement ,each ,state partnership receiving a curriculum grant under this subsection shall provide an amount1 in cash or in-kind1 that is not less than #be percent of the amount of the grant1 to carry out the activities supported by the grant4 ,the matching requirement under this subsection may be provided from funds available from other ,federal1 ,state1 local1 or private sources to carry out such activities4 7#g7 ,evaluation and reporting requirement ,each ,state partnership in a ,state receiving a curriculum grant under this subsection shall annually report to the ,director regarding-- 7,a7 the progress made on the activities described in paragraph 7#d71 including the progress made in the development and distribution of the career pathways curriculum assisted through the grant2 7,b7 the data and information gathered to benchmark appropriate outcomes of the curriculum development1 implementation1 distribution1 and professional development1 which may include student outcomes2 7,c7 the use of grant funds1 including matched funds1 by the ,state2 and 7,d7 the ,state's progress on the performance benchmarks described in paragraph 7#b77;,c7 that are established with the agreement of the ,director4 7#h7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize an officer or employee of the ,federal ,government to mandate1 direct1 or control a ,state's1 local educational agency's1 or school's specific instructional content1 academic achievement standards or assessments1 curriculum1 or program of instruction4 7b7 ,career pathways capacity expansion and modernization grants 7#a7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this subsection is to enable ,states to better prepare students for postsecondary education and careers in ,state and regional high skill1 high demand industries by providing eligible ,states with grants in order to expand1 enhance1 and modernize school facilities and equipment to reflect the requirements of ,state and regional high skill1 high demand industries4 7#b7 ,definition of qualifying region ,in this subsection1 the term qualifying region means a region of a ,state that has a regional partnership that has-- 7,a7 previously received a partnership implementation subgrant under section #ajc2 and 7,b7 a low graduation rate1 compared to the ,state average1 or a high percentage of at-risk youth1 compared to the ,state average4 7#c7 ,application 7,a7 ,in general ,a ,governor of a ,state1 in partnership with the ,state partnership serving the ,state1 desiring an expansion and modernization grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,director at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such information as the ,director may reasonably require4 7,b7 ,contents ,each application submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall-- 7i7 be submitted during the period that the ,state partnership serving the ,state is receiving an implementation grant under section #ajb2 7ii7 demonstrate a need for the expansion1 enhancement1 or modernization of existing facilities or equipment as of the date of the application1 in qualifying regions2 7iii7 describe the activities for which assistance under this subsection is sought2 7iv7 describe creative arrangements to maximize the use of the facilities and equipment that are expanded1 enhanced1 or modernized with grant funds under this subsection1 by sharing the facilities and equipment with other schools or postsecondary programs2 7v7 include a budget of the cost of the project and a timeline for the provision of the matching funds required under paragraph 7#f72 7vi7 describe the performance benchmarks to be used to measure the ,state's progress in implementing a grant under this subsection2 and 7vii7 provide such additional assurances as the ,director determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this title4 7#d7 ,fiscal and administration agent ,the ,governor of a ,state receiving an expansion and modernization grant under this subsection shall appoint the ,state facilities authority or ,state agency responsible for school construction and renovation to serve as the fiscal agent and administer the grant funds4 7#e7 ,required activities ,a ,state receiving an expansion and modernization grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to-- 7,a7 make necessary expansions or enhancements to existing facilities in qualifying regions2 and 7,b7 modernize equipment essential to instruction within the career pathways curriculum4 7#f7 ,non-,federal funds matching requirement ,each ,state partnership receiving an expansion and modernization grant under this subsection shall provide1 from non-,federal sources1 an amount that is not less than #ej percent of the amount of the grant1 to carry out the activities supported by the grant4 ,the matching requirement under this paragraph may be provided in cash or in-kind4 7#g7 ,evaluation and reporting requirements ,each ,state partnership in a ,state receiving an expansion and modernization grant under this subsection shall annually submit a report to the ,director regarding-- 7,a7 the ,state's progress made on the activities described in paragraph 7#e72 7,b7 the use of grant funds by the ,state2 and 7,c7 the ,state's progress on the performance benchmarks described in paragraph 7#c77;,b7 that are established with the agreement of the ,director4 7c7 ,registered ,apprenticeship ,grants in high skill1 high demand industries 7#a7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this subsection is to enable ,states to expand or create registered apprenticeship programs in high skill1 high demand industries4 7#b7 ,application 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,governor1 in partnership with the ,state partnership serving the ,state1 may submit an application for an apprenticeship grant under this subsection to the ,director at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,director may require4 7,b7 ,contents ,each application submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall-- 7i7 be submitted during the period that the ,state partnership serving the ,state is receiving an implementation grant under section #ajb2 7ii7 demonstrate a need for creation or expansion of registered apprenticeship programs in high skill1 high demand industries2 7iii7 describe the activities for which assistance under this subsection is sought2 7iv7 describe the performance benchmarks to be used to measure the development1 implementation1 and distribution concerning registered apprenticeship programs2 7v7 include a budget of the cost of the project and a timeline for the provision of the matching funds required under paragraph 7#e72 and 7vi7 provide such additional assurances as the ,director determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this title4 7#c7 ,fiscal and administration agent ,in the case of a ,state receiving an apprenticeship grant under this subsection-- 7,a7 that has a ,state apprenticeship council recognized by the ,department of ,labor1 the ,state apprenticeship council administrative agency shall serve as the fiscal agent and administer the grant funds2 or 7,b7 where the ,office of ,apprenticeship of the ,department of ,labor administers the registered apprenticeship program1 the ,governor of the ,state shall appoint the appropriate ,state agency to serve as the fiscal agent and administer the grant funds4 7#d7 ,required activities ,an eligible ,state receiving an apprenticeship grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds for activities necessary to create or expand registered apprenticeship programs in high skill1 high demand industries1 including-- 7,a7 developing and administering a new or enhancing an existing registered apprenticeship program in a high skill1 high demand industry as identified by the ,state2 7,b7 registering the apprenticeship program with the ,department of ,labor2 7,c7 providing or arranging for equipment necessary for training in the registered apprenticeship program2 7,d7 developing skills-based theoretical and technical classroom and on-the-job curricula2 7,e7 identifying and training1 as appropriate1 instructors for the registered apprenticeship program2 and 7,f7 conducting outreach and marketing about the registered apprenticeship program to interested stakeholders1 including secondary schools serving high school students4 7#e7 ,prohibited ,use ,a ,state partnership receiving an apprenticeship grant under this subsection shall not use any ,federal funds provided under the grant to pay wages or provide benefits to workers4 7#f7 ,non-,federal funds matching requirement ,each ,state partnership receiving an apprenticeship grant under this subsection shall provide1 from non-,federal sources1 an amount that is not less than #be percent of the amount of the grant1 to carry out the activities supported by the grant4 ,the matching requirement under this paragraph may be provided in cash or in-kind4 7#g7 ,evaluation and reporting requirement ,each ,state partnership in a ,state receiving an apprenticeship grant under this subsection shall annually submit a report to the ,director regarding-- 7,a7 the progress made on the activities described in paragraph 7#d72 7,b7 the use of grant funds1 including matched funds1 by the ,state2 and 7,c7 the ,state's progress on the performance benchmarks described in paragraph 7#b77;,b7 that are established with the agreement of the ,director4 7d7 ,youth one-,stop career services enhancement grant 7#a7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this subsection is to enable ,states to make career services available through one-stop centers-- 7,a7 more welcoming and user-friendly for secondary school students2 and 7,b7 more accessible to such students while in school4 7#b7 ,application 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,governor of a ,state1 in partnership with the ,state partnership serving the ,state1 may submit an application for a career services enhancement grant under this subsection to the ,director at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,director may require4 7,b7 ,contents ,each application submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall-- 7i7 be submitted during the period that the ,state partnership serving the ,state is receiving an implementation grant under section #ajb2 7ii7 demonstrate a need for the enhancement or expansion of one-stop career guidance and exploration services for high school students2 7iii7 describe the activities for which assistance under this subsection is sought2 7iv7 describe the performance benchmarks to be used to measure the ,state's progress in implementing a grant under this subsection2 7v7 include a budget of the cost of the project and a timeline for the provision of the matching funds required under paragraph 7#e72 and 7vi7 provide such additional assurances as the ,director determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this subsection4 7#c7 ,fiscal and administration agent ,the ,governor of a ,state receiving a career services enhancement grant under this subsection shall appoint the ,state workforce investment board or the ,state workforce administrative entity as the fiscal agent and the entity responsible for administering the grant4 ,the ,state workforce investment board shall give preference for resources available under this grant to one-stop centers in regions with regional partnerships receiving a subgrant under section #ajc4 7#d7 ,required activities ,a ,state receiving a career services enhancement grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to expand or enhance career guidance and exploration services for students provided through one-stop centers1 including resources funded under the ,wagner-,peyser ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #di et seq471 by-- 7,a7 enhancing services for students participating in career pathways1 such as enhancing-- 7i7 job search and placement assistance and1 as appropriate1 career counseling2 7ii7 the provision of employment statistics information1 including the provision of accurate information related to local1 regional1 and national labor market areas1 which may include-- 7,i7 job vacancy listings in the labor market area2 7,,ii7 information on the job skills necessary to obtain those jobs2 and 7,,iii7 information related to local occupations in demand and the earnings and skill requirements of such occupations2 7iii7 the provision of performance information and program cost information on eligible providers of training described in section #abb of the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhdb72 7iv7 comprehensive and specialized assessments of skill levels and development of plans to identify and attain career goals2 7v7 individual counseling and career planning2 and 7vi7 short-term prevocational services1 such as the development of learning skills1 presentation skills1 resume writing skills1 interviewing skills1 punctuality1 and professional conduct1 among others1 to prepare individuals for unsubsidized employment2 or 7,b7 providing one-stop center career services in proximity to high school students1 subject to the requirements of section #acd7;c7 of the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhfd7;c774 7#e7 ,matching requirement ,each ,state partnership receiving a career services enhancement grant under this subsection shall provide an amount1 in cash or in-kind1 that is not less than #ej percent of the amount of the grant1 to carry out the activities supported by the grant4 ,the matching requirement under this subsection may be provided from funds available from other ,federal1 ,state1 local1 or private sources to carry out such activities4 7#f7 ,evaluation and reporting requirement ,each eligible ,state partnership in a ,state receiving a career services enhancement grant under this subsection shall submit a report to the ,director regarding-- 7,a7 the progress made on the activities described in paragraph 7#d72 7,b7 the use of grant funds1 including matched funds1 by the ,state partnership2 and 7,c7 the ,state's progress on the performance benchmarks described in paragraph 7#b77;,b7 that are established with the agreement of the ,director4 ,,iii ,general provisions #cja4 ,establishment of the ,national ,academic and ,career ,innovation ,center 7a7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this section is to establish a ,national ,academic and ,career ,innovation ,center that-- 7#a7 encourages innovations to address the constant changes in the highly competitive global economy2 7#b7 serves as a national resource for ,state partnerships and regional partnerships in the ,united ,states by-- 7,a7 disseminating information on research and best practices regarding the development of career pathways2 7,b7 disseminating demonstrated curricula developed by ,states2 and 7,c7 supporting the efforts of ,state partnerships and regional partnerships to offer career pathways of proven effectiveness2 7#c7 designs and conducts performance evaluations of career pathways activities1 to determine whether the short- and long-term goals of the activities are being met2 and 7#d7 administers1 oversees1 and evaluates all career pathways grants4 7b7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,there is established the ,national ,academic and ,career ,innovation ,center1 which shall be administered under the terms of an interagency agreement entered into by the ,secretary of ,education1 the ,secretary of ,labor1 and the ,secretary of ,commerce 7in this section referred to as the ,interagency ,group74 7#b7 ,offices ,the ,center shall have offices separate from the offices of the ,department of ,education1 the ,department of ,labor1 and the ,department of ,commerce4 7#c7 ,recommendations ,the ,interagency ,group shall consider the recommendations of the ,board1 established under subsection 7d71 in planning the goals of the ,center and in implementing any programs to achieve such goals4 7c7 ,duties 7#a7 ,in general ,in order to serve as a national resource for ,states and regions creating and implementing career pathways in the ,united ,states1 the ,center is authorized-- 7,a7 to administer and oversee grants and contracts under this ,act2 7,b7 to conduct evaluations and research in accordance with section #cjc to determine the effectiveness of the career pathways initiative under this ,act2 7,c7 to make findings as to whether the goals of the career pathways initiatives under this ,act have been met by the grant programs created under this ,act2 7,d7 to work with ,state partnerships and regional partnerships to develop performance measures1 in accordance with section #cjb1 to determine whether the short- and long-term goals of the activities being funded by the career pathways grants described in this ,act are being met2 7,e7 to advise ,congress and the ,departments of ,labor1 ,education1 and ,commerce on the development and continuous improvement of career pathways2 7,f7 to communicate and coordinate with the ,departments of ,labor1 ,education1 and ,commerce on related activities administered by one or more of the ,departments2 and 7,g7 to disseminate information1 through online and other resources that are easily accessible1 that shall-- 7i7 consist of-- 7,i7 model career pathways curricula developed under section #bjb7;a72 and 7,,ii7 proven best practices and career resources1 including multi-media information and products identified by the ,center1 other entities1 and repositories of information2 and 7ii7 facilitate the ability of secondary schools serving high school students or other educational entities to access and implement model career pathways curricula if the schools or entities so choose4 7#b7 ,grants and contracts ,the ,center may award grants to1 or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with1 individuals1 public or private institutions1 agencies1 or organizations1 to carry out the activities of the ,center4 7#c7 ,disclosures ,the ,center shall publicly disclose1 through an easily accessible website1 the ,center's justification for the ,center's decision to approve or reject each application for a grant under this ,act and1 in the case of an application that is approved1 the amount of the grant awarded4 7#d7 ,prohibition on required use of a curriculum ,the ,director shall not-- 7,a7 use online resources supported under this section to develop a national curriculum2 or 7,b7 require ,states to use any model career pathways curriculum included in the online resources4 7d7 ,national ,academic and ,career ,innovation ,center ,board 7#a7 ,establishment 7,a7 ,in general ,there shall be a ,national ,academic and ,career ,innovation ,center ,board1 which shall consist of #ae individuals appointed by the ,president with the advice and consent of the ,senate4 7,b7 ,composition ,the ,board shall be comprised of individuals who are not otherwise officers or employees of the ,federal ,government and who are representative of-- 7i7 public secondary education2 7ii7 public postsecondary education1 including #b-year and #d-year institutions of higher education2 7iii7 businesses and trade organizations that demonstrate an interest in career pathways2 7iv7 high school students or postsecondary students1 including at-risk youth2 7v7 workforce development2 7vi7 economic development2 7vii7 ,state and local governments2 7viii7 parents or legal guardians of students2 and 7ix7 labor organizations4 7#b7 ,duties ,the ,board shall-- 7,a7 make recommendations concerning the appointment of the ,director and staff of the ,center2 7,b7 advise the ,center and the ,interagency ,group on a vision of career pathways that-- 7i7 create opportunities for high school students to make successful transitions to postsecondary education and employment and improve the long-term economic prosperity for themselves and their families2 and 7ii7 play an integral part in the larger workforce and economic development systems2 7,c7 provide independent advice on the operation of the ,center2 and 7,d7 receive reports from the ,interagency ,group and the ,director4 7#c7 ,appointments 7,a7 ,in general ,each member of the ,board shall be appointed for a term of #e years1 except that the initial terms for members may be #a1 #b1 or #c years in order to establish a rotation in which #a_/c of the members are selected in each of the first #c years of a #e-year cycle4 7,b7 ,term limit ,any such member may be appointed for not more than #a full term4 7,c7 ,vacancies ,any vacancy in the ,board shall not affect the powers of the ,board1 but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment4 7,d7 ,election of officers ,the ,board shall elect a ,chairperson and ,vice ,chairperson of the ,board from among the members of the ,board4 7,e7 ,meetings ,the ,board shall meet at the call of the ,chairperson or a majority of the members of the ,board4 7e7 ,director ,the ,board1 after considering recommendations made by the ,interagency ,group1 shall appoint and fix the pay of a ,director4 7f7 ,gifts1 bequests1 and devises 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,center may accept1 administer1 and use for the purposes of the ,center gifts or donations of services1 money1 or property1 whether real or personal1 tangible or intangible4 7#b7 ,rules ,the ,board shall establish written rules setting forth the criteria to be used by the ,center in determining whether the acceptance of contributions of services1 money1 or property whether real or personal1 tangible or intangible1 would reflect unfavorably upon the ability of the ,center or any employee to carry out the responsibilities of the ,center or employee1 or official duties1 in a fair and objective manner1 or would compromise the integrity or the appearance of the integrity of the ,center's programs or any official involved in those programs4 7g7 ,funding ,any amounts appropriated to the ,secretary of ,education1 the ,secretary of ,labor1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 or the head of any other department that participates in the ,center1 for the purposes that the ,center is authorized to perform under this ,act1 may be provided to the ,center for such purposes4 #cjb4 ,accountability and performance measurement 7a7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this section is to establish an accountability system1 comprised of the activities described in this section1 in order to-- 7#a7 assess the effectiveness of ,state and regional activities assisted under this ,act to help high school students successfully transition from secondary school to postsecondary education and employment primarily in high skill1 high demand industries by acquiring the skills and knowledge that lead to long-term career success2 7#b7 improve the ,state and regional career pathways activities assisted under this ,act2 7#c7 assess the effectiveness of ,state and regional career pathways activities in creating a highly skilled and agile workforce that meets #bast century skill demands2 7#d7 maximize the return on investment of ,federal funds in ,state and regional career pathways activities assisted under this ,act2 and 7#e7 assess the effectiveness of ,state and regional career pathways in connecting efforts in education1 economic1 and workforce development4 7b7 ,performance measures 7#a7 ,in general ,for each ,state partnership and regional partnership1 performance measures shall consist of the indicators of performance described in paragraph 7#b7 and the level of performance described in paragraph 7#c74 7#b7 ,indicators of performance ,the indicators of performance shall consist of the following3 7,a7 ,interim indicators 7i7 ,student participation in a career pathway4 7ii7 ,student attainment of a secondary school diploma1 disaggregated by the subgroups described in section #aaaa7;b77#b77;,c77v77,,ii7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;b77#b77;,c77v77,,ii774 7iii7 ,student participation in a career pathway and attainment of a secondary school diploma1 disaggregated by the subgroups described in such section #aaaa7;b77#b77;,c77v77,,ii74 7,b7 ,transitional indicators 7i7 ,student acquisition of a secondary school diploma and entrance into postsecondary education or employment4 7ii7 ,student acquisition of a secondary school diploma and entrance into postsecondary education or employment related to a high skill1 high demand industry4 7iii7 ,attainment of #a or more recognized credentials1 which may include a certificate1 license1 journey-status card1 or associate degree or baccalaureate degree4 7iv7 ,attainment of #a or more recognized credentials1 which may include a certificate1 license1 journey-status card1 or associate degree or baccalaureate degree related to a high skill1 high demand industry4 7,c7 ,long-term indicators 7i7 ,employment of individuals who participated in a career pathway and attained a secondary school diploma or a credential4 7ii7 ,employment of individuals who participated in a career pathway and attained a secondary school diploma or a credential related to a high skill1 high demand industry4 7iii7 ,the initial wage or salary level of individuals who participated in a career pathway and attained a secondary school diploma4 7iv7 ,the initial wage or salary level of individuals who participated in a career pathway and attained a secondary school diploma and a credential4 7,d7 ,additional indicators ,a ,state partnership may identify in the ,state implementation application additional indicators that regional partnerships receiving a subgrant from the ,state partnership shall use to evaluate career pathways activities supported by the subgrant4 7#c7 ,level of performance ,for each indicator of performance1 there shall be a level of performance expressed in objective1 quantifiable1 and measurable form and in a way to show the progress of the ,state toward continuously improving performance4 7#d7 ,state performance measures 7,a7 ,in general ,each ,state partnership that receives an implementation grant under section #ajb or a transition grant under section #ajd shall reach agreement with the ,director on the performance measures for the years covered by the implementation grant or the transition grant as a condition of receiving the grant4 ,the performance measures shall take into account the ,state's economic conditions1 student characteristics1 graduation rates1 and the activities or services provided supported by the grants4 7,b7 ,adjustments ,if unanticipated circumstances arise in a ,state resulting in a significant change in the ,state's economic conditions1 student characteristics1 secondary school graduation rates1 or activities or services provided1 the ,state partnership ,governor may request that the ,director adjust the level of performance for the ,state4 7#e7 ,regional performance measures 7,a7 ,in general ,each regional partnership that receives a career pathways subgrant under section #ajc shall reach agreement with the ,state partnership on the regional levels of performance for each core indicator and any additional indicators that the ,state partnership may establish in accordance with this subsection for the years covered by the grant as a condition of receiving the subgrant4 ,the performance measures shall take into account the economic conditions1 student characteristics1 graduation rates1 and activities or services provided within the region4 7,b7 ,adjustments ,if unanticipated circumstances arise in a region1 resulting in a significant change in the economic conditions1 student characteristics1 graduation rates1 or activities or services provided1 the regional partnership may request that the ,state partnership adjust the level of performance4 7#f7 ,calculation rules 7,a7 ,wage records ,in measuring progress in labor market-related core indicators1 a ,state partnership or regional partnership shall use wage records1 consistent with ,state law and by making arrangements through the ,secretary of ,labor1 to ensure that the wage records of any ,state or region are available to any other ,state or region to the extent required by the other ,state or region to complete the annual report required under this section4 7,b7 ,reentering students ,if a student exits the education system at any point during secondary school or postsecondary education1 a ,state partnership or regional partnership shall include the student in the required performance data if the student reenrolls in public education before the student attains the age of #bd4 7c7 ,reports 7#a7 ,in general ,each ,state partnership that receives a grant under this ,act shall annually1 for each year of the grant1 provide a report to the ,center that includes the progress of the ,state in accomplishing the performance measures or benchmarks for the ,state1 which annual report shall include-- 7,a7 information on the progress each region receiving a career pathways subgrant made in accomplishing its performance measures2 7,b7 the costs of the career pathways activities supported under the implementation grant under section #ajb and any supplemental grants received by the ,state under title ,,ii1 including-- 7i7 the type of cost1 such as cash1 personnel1 equipment1 supplies1 or materials1 or other cost2 and 7ii7 the sources used to pay such costs1 such as funding from other ,federal1 ,state1 or local public programs or private sector or philanthropic contributions1 and the dollar value of the resources leveraged to cover such costs and support the activities2 and 7,c7 any fiscal and management accountability information required by the ,center1 using sound financial and management practices4 7#b7 ,valid and reliable information ,in preparing the ,state reports under this subsection1 each ,state partnership shall establish procedures1 consistent with guidelines issued by the ,center1 to ensure that the information contained in the reports is valid and reliable4 7d7 ,,ferpa ,in carrying out the requirements of this section1 each ,state1 ,state partnership1 and regional partnership shall comply with section #ddd of the ,general ,education ,provisions ,act 7the ,family ,educational ,rights and ,privacy ,act of #aigd7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #abcb;g74 7e7 ,availability of information ,the ,director shall make the information in the ,state partnership reports required under this section available1 through publication and other appropriate methods1 to-- 7#a7 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 the ,secretary of ,education1 and the ,secretary of ,labor2 7#b7 the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7#c7 the public4 #cjc4 ,evaluation and research 7a7 ,in general ,the ,director is authorized to conduct evaluation and research1 either directly or through grants or contracts1 to determine the effectiveness of the career pathway initiatives under this ,act in meeting the purposes of this ,act4 ,research topics may include-- 7#a7 effective activities and interventions to engage high school students and help the students transition to postsecondary education and careers1 including improving outcomes for at-risk youth2 7#b7 effective improvements to data systems to better enable ,states and regions to measure student academic and career longitudinal outcomes2 and 7#c7 the taxpayer return on investment in the career pathways initiative under this ,act and the participant return on investment in the career pathways initiatives under this ,act4 7b7 ,award basis ,each grant or contract awarded under subsection 7a7 that is in an amount that exceeds #bjj1jjj shall be awarded only on a competitive basis1 except that a noncompetitive award of more than #bjj1jjj may be made in the case of a project that is funded jointly with other public or private entities that provide a substantial portion of assistance under the grant or contract for the project4 7c7 ,peer review ,the ,center shall utilize a peer review process-- 7#a7 to review all applications for research and evaluation grants and contracts in excess of #ejj1jjj2 and 7#b7 to review and designate the exemplary and promising career pathways curricula1 practices1 and model approaches4 7d7 ,methodology ,evaluations conducted under this section shall utilize appropriate methodology and research designs4 7e7 ,distribution ,not later than #fj days after the completion of a final research or evaluation report under this subsection1 the ,director shall-- 7#a7 make the final report available to the public and to the ,states2 and 7#b7 submit the final report1 accompanied by the recommendations of the ,center1 as appropriate to the ,secretary of ,commerce1 the ,secretary of ,education1 and the ,secretary of ,labor1 and the appropriate committees of ,congress4 7f7 ,affect on other programs ,the ,secretary of ,commerce1 the ,secretary of ,education1 and the ,secretary of ,labor shall take the findings of the evaluation and research described in this section and the reports under section #cjb7;f7 into account4 #cjd4 ,benefits and labor standards 7a7 ,in general ,the provisions of subsection 7a77#a71 paragraphs 7#b71 7#c71 and 7#d7 of subsection 7b71 and subsection 7c71 of section #aha of the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aihh 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bica7 that apply to individuals participating in activities under title ,i of that ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhja et seq471 shall apply in the same manner to individuals participating in programs under this ,act4 7b7 ,references ,for purposes of the application described in subsection 7a71 a reference to-- 7#a7 funds or a recipient of funds under that title shall be considered to be a reference to funds or a recipient of funds under this ,act2 7#b7 a requirement or violation of that title shall be considered to be a reference to a requirement or violation of this ,act2 and 7#c7 the ,secretary of ,labor shall be considered to be a reference to the ,center4 #cje4 ,sunshine provision ,each ,state partnership and regional partnership receiving a grant or subgrant under this ,act shall make available to the public-- 7#a7 on a regular basis through open meetings-- 7,a7 information about the activities of the ,state partnership or regional partnership1 respectively1 including information on the ,state plan under section #aja and how to provide comments prior to the ,state partnership's submission of the plan2 and 7,b7 information about the membership of the ,state partnership or regional partnership1 respectively2 and 7#b7 upon request1 the minutes of the formal meetings of the ,state partnership or regional partnership1 respectively4 #cjf4 ,authorization of appropriations and distribution 7a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,center to carry out the activities described in this ,act1 such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years #bjad through #bjbb4 7b7 ,distribution 7#a7 ,in general ,of the amount appropriated under subsection 7a7 for fiscal year #bjad1 the ,center shall use-- 7,a7 #ab1jjj1jjj to carry out section #aja2 7,b7 a total of #fjj1jjj1jjj to carry out sections #ajb1 #ajc1 and #ajd2 7,c7 #cjj1jjj1jjj to carry out section #bja2 and 7,d7 #ah1jjj1jjj to carry out title ,,iii4 7#b7 ,ratable reduction ,in the event that the amounts appropriated under this section for fiscal year #bjad is less than the amounts required to carry out paragraph 7#a71 the ,center shall ratably reduce each such amount for such fiscal year4