,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #chib ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #bc1 #bjai,mr4 ,harder of ,california introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act to award competitive grants for the purpose of developing1 offering1 improving1 and providing educational or career pathway programs for workers1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,short-,term ,accelerated ,reskilling ,tracks ,career ,pathways ,act or the ,,start ,career ,pathways ,act4 #b4 ,,start ,pathways to ,careers ,fund ,title ,i of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caaa et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,f ,,start ,pathways to ,careers ,fund #aii4 ,,start ,pathways to ,careers program 7a7 ,grants authorized ,not later than the end of the first full fiscal year after the date of enactment of the ,,start ,career ,pathways ,act1 from funds appropriated under section #aii;,a1 the ,secretary of ,labor 7in coordination with the ,secretary of ,education7 shall award competitive grants to eligible entities described in subsection 7c7 for the purpose of developing1 offering1 improving1 and providing educational or career pathway programs for workers4 7b7 ,duration 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretaries may award a grant to an eligible entity for not more than a #f-year period4 7#b7 ,continuation of grants ,at the end of the initial #c-year grant period for a grant awarded to an eligible entity under this section1 the ,secretary shall evaluate1 using the performance indicators under subsection 7h71 each program for which the eligible entity was awarded such grant to determine if eligible entity is eligible to receive such grant for an additional #c-year grant period4 7c7 ,eligible entity 7#a7 ,partnerships with employers or an employer or industry partnership 7,a7 ,general definition ,for purposes of this section1 an eligible entity means any of the entities described in subparagraph 7,b7 7or a consortium of any of such entities7 in partnership with local employers or a local employer or local industry partnership representing multiple employers4 7,b7 ,description of entities ,the entities described in this subparagraph are-- 7i7 a junior college or a community college 7as defined under section #caf of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;c7 to mean public #b-year ,state institutions of higher education at which the highest degree that is predominantly awarded to students is an associate's degree1 including #b-year tribally controlled colleges72 7ii7 a #d-year public institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a777 that offers #b-year degrees1 and that will use funds provided under this section for activities at the certificate and associate degree levels2 or 7iii7 a postsecondary vocational institution1 as defined in section #ajb7;c7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife4 7#b7 ,additional partners 7,a7 ,authorization of additional partners ,in addition to partnering with local employers or a local employer or local industry partnership representing multiple employers as described in paragraph 7#a77;,a71 an entity described in paragraph 7#a7 may include in the partnership described in paragraph 7#a7 one or more of the organizations described in subparagraph 7,b74 ,each eligible entity that includes one or more such organizations shall collaborate with the ,state or local board in the area served by the eligible entity4 7,b7 ,organizations ,the organizations described in this subparagraph are as follows3 7i7 ,a provider of adult education 7as defined in section #bjc7 or an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja774 7ii7 ,a community-based organization4 7iii7 ,a joint labor-management partnership4 7iv7 ,a ,state board that oversees higher education4 7v7 ,a ,state educational agency 7as defined in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja774 7vi7 ,an elementary school or secondary school 7as such terms are defined in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja774 7vii7 ,a local educational agency 7as defined in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja774 7viii7 ,a ,state-based education focused nonprofit4 7ix7 ,an educational service agency 7as defined in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja774 7x7 ,any other not-for-profit or community-based organization1 with a proven record on job training 7as determined by the ,secretaries71 that the ,secretaries consider appropriate4 7d7 ,educational or career pathway program ,for purposes of this section1 the ,governor of the ,state in which at least #a of the entities described in subsection 7c7 of an eligible entity is located shall establish criteria for an educational or career training pathway program leading to a recognized postsecondary credential for which an eligible entity submits a grant proposal under subsection 7e74 7e7 ,application ,an eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application containing a grant proposal1 for an educational or career pathway program leading to a recognized postsecondary credential1 to the ,secretaries at such time and containing such information as the ,secretaries determine is required1 including-- 7#a7 a detailed description of-- 7,a7 the extent to which the educational or career pathway program described in the grant proposal fits within an overall strategic plan consisting of-- 7i7 the ,state plan described in section #ajb or #ajc1 for the ,state involved2 7ii7 the local plan described in section #ajh1 for each local area that comprises a significant portion of the area to be served by the eligible entity2 and 7iii7 a strategic local plan developed by the eligible entity2 7,b7 the extent to which the program will meet the needs of employers in the area for workers in high-skill1 high-wage1 or in-demand sectors or occupations2 7,c7 the extent to which the program will meet the educational or career training needs of workers in the area2 7,d7 the specific educational or career pathway program and how the program meets the criteria established under subsection 7f71 including the manner in which the grant will be used to develop1 offer1 improve1 and provide the educational or career pathway program2 7,e7 any previous experience of the eligible entity in providing educational or career pathway programs1 the absence of which shall not automatically disqualify an eligible institution from receiving a grant under this section2 and 7,f7 how the program leading to the credential meets the criteria described in subsection 7f72 and 7#b7 a detailed plan on how the entity will ensure that the program will meet the performance measures described in subsection 7h71 and an assurance that the entity will annually submit to the ,secretary information on the performance of the program on such performance measures4 7f7 ,criteria for award 7#a7 ,in general ,grants under this section shall be awarded based on criteria established by the ,secretaries1 that include the following3 7,a7 ,a determination of the merits of the grant proposal submitted by the eligible entity involved to develop1 offer1 improve1 and provide an educational or career pathway program to be made available to local workers4 7,b7 ,an assessment of the likely employment opportunities available in the area to individuals who complete an educational or career pathway program that the eligible entity proposes to develop1 offer1 improve1 and provide4 7,c7 ,an assessment of prior demand for training programs by individuals eligible for training and served by the eligible entity1 as well as availability and capacity of existing 7as of the date of the assessment7 training programs to meet future demand for training programs4 7#b7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretaries shall give priority to eligible entities that-- 7,a7 include a partnership1 with local employers or a local employer or local industry partnership1 that-- 7i7 pays a portion of the costs of educational or career pathway programs2 or 7ii7 creates a career pathway by supporting employers who hire individuals who have attained a recognized postsecondary credential resulting from the educational or career training pathway program of the eligible entity2 7,b7 enter into a partnership with a labor organization or labor-management training program to provide1 through the program1 technical expertise for occupationally specific education necessary for a recognized postsecondary credential leading to an occupation in a local high-skill1 high-wage1 or in-demand industry sector or occupation2 7,c7 are focused on serving individuals with barriers to employment1 students who are veterans including1 active duty servicemembers who are otherwise eligible for educational assistance under chapter #cj of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 spouses of members of the ,armed ,forces1 children of members of the ,armed ,forces1 and incumbent workers who are low-skilled and who need to increase their work-related skills2 7,d7 include any eligible entities serving areas with high unemployment rates2 and 7,e7 are eligible entities that include an institution of higher education eligible for assistance under title ,,iii or ,v of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajea et seq42 #bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja et seq474 7g7 ,use of funds ,grant funds awarded under this section shall be used for one or more of the following3 7#a7 ,the development1 offering1 improvement1 and provision of educational or career pathway programs1 that provide relevant job training for skilled occupations1 that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials1 that will meet the needs of employers in high-skill1 high-wage1 or in-demand sectors or occupations 7such as nursing1 health care1 agriculture1 horticulture1 food1 natural resources1 fire science1 building trades1 and labor7 and that may include registered apprenticeship programs1 on-the-job training programs1 and programs that support employers in upgrading the skills of their workforce4 7#b7 ,the development and implementation of policies and programs to expand opportunities for students to earn a recognized postsecondary credential1 including a degree1 in high-skill1 high-wage1 or in-demand industry sectors or occupations1 including by-- 7,a7 facilitating the transfer of academic credits between institutions of higher education1 including the transfer of academic credits for courses in the same field of study2 7,b7 expanding articulation agreements and policies that guarantee transfers between such institutions1 including through common course numbering and use of a general core curriculum2 7,c7 developing or enhancing student support services2 and 7,d7 establishing policies and processes for assessing and awarding course credit for work-related learning4 7#c7 ,the creation of career pathway programs that provide a sequence of education and occupational training that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential1 including a degree1 including programs that-- 7,a7 blend basic skills and occupational training2 7,b7 facilitate means of transitioning participants from non-credit occupational1 basic skills1 or developmental coursework to for-credit coursework within and across institutions2 7,c7 build or enhance linkages1 including the development of dual enrollment programs and early college high schools1 between secondary education or adult education programs 7including programs established under the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcja et seq47 and title ,,ii of this ,act72 7,d7 are innovative programs designed to increase the provision of training for students1 including students who are members of the ,national ,guard or ,reserves1 to enter high-skill1 high-wage1 or in-demand industry sectors or occupations2 7,e7 support paid internships that will allow students to simultaneously earn credit for work-based learning and gain relevant employment experience in a high-skill1 high-wage1 or in-demand industry sector or occupation1 which shall include opportunities that transition individuals into employment2 and 7,f7 develop competency-based education programs that offer an outcome-oriented approach through which recognized postsecondary credentials are awarded based on successful demonstration of skills and proficiency4 7#d7 ,a ,pay-for-,success program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential1 for which an eligible entity-- 7,a7 enters into a partnership with an investor1 such as a philanthropic organization that provides funding for a specific project to address a clear and measurable educational or career training need in the area to be served under the grant2 and 7,b7 agrees to be reimbursed under the grant only if the project achieves specified performance outcomes and criteria agreed to by the ,secretary4 7h7 ,performance measures 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish performance measures for the programs carried out under this section4 7#b7 ,measures ,the performance measures shall consist of-- 7,a7 indicators of performance1 including the number of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program2 and 7,b7 a level of performance for each indicator described in subparagraph 7,a74 7#c7 ,monitoring progress ,the ,secretary shall monitor the progress of eligible entities that receive grants under this section in ensuring that their programs meet the performance measures4 #aii;,a4 ,general provisions 7a7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the program established by section #aii4 ,funds appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until the end of the #eth full fiscal year after the date of enactment of the ,,start ,career ,pathways ,act4 7#b7 ,administrative cost ,not more than #e percent of the amounts made available under paragraph 7#a7 may be used by the ,secretaries for ,federal administration of the program described in that subsection1 including providing technical assistance and carrying out evaluations for the program described in that subsection4 7#c7 ,period of availability ,the funds appropriated pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 for a fiscal year shall be available for ,federal obligation for that fiscal year and the succeeding #d fiscal years4 7b7 ,secretaries defined ,in this subtitle1 the term ,secretaries means the ,secretary of ,labor and the ,secretary of ,education4 4 #c4 ,,start 7,short-,term ,accelerated ,reskilling ,tracks7 ,pathways to ,careers ,federal ,pell ,grants ,section #dja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj;a-#a7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7k7 ,start federal pell grant applications 7#a7 ,in general ,for the award years beginning on ,october #a1 #bjai1 the ,secretary shall carry out a program through which the ,secretary shall award ,,start ,federal ,pell ,grants to students in eligible short-term programs4 7#b7 ,terms and conditions ,each ,,start ,federal ,pell ,grant awarded under this subsection shall have the same terms and conditions1 and be awarded in the same manner1 as a ,federal ,pell ,grant awarded under subsection 7a71 except as follows3 7,a7 ,student eligibility ,a student who is eligible to receive a ,federal ,pell ,grant under this subsection is a student who-- 7i7 has not yet attained a baccalaureate degree or postbaccalaureate degree2 and 7ii7 is enrolled1 or accepted for enrollment1 in an eligible short-term program at an institution of higher education4 7,b7 ,grant amount ,the amount of a ,,start ,federal ,pell ,grant awarded under this subsection for an eligible student shall be determined under subsection 7b77#b77;,a71 except that-- 7i7 subsection 7b77#d7 shall be applied by substituting #e percent for ten percent2 and 7ii7 no increase shall be calculated under subsection 7b77#g77;,b7 for such student4 7,c7 ,inclusion in duration limits ,any period during which a student receives a ,,start ,federal ,pell ,grant under this subsection shall be included in calculating the student's period of eligibility for ,federal ,pell ,grants under subsection 7c71 and any regulations under such subsection regarding students who are enrolled in an undergraduate program on less than a full-time basis shall similarly apply to students who are enrolled in an eligible short-term program at an eligible institution on less than a full-time basis4 7,d7 ,effect on discontinued participation ,an eligible student who receives a ,,start ,federal ,pell ,grant under this subsection shall receive such grant during the period in which the student is enrolled in a short-term program for which the student receives such grant and is making satisfactory academic progress1 without regard to whether the short-term program ceases to be eligible for participation in the ,,start ,federal ,pell ,grant program under this subsection4 7#c7 ,eligible short-term program requirements 7,a7 ,in general ,to be an eligible short-term program for purposes of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall determine that a short-term program meets the following3 7i7 ,the short-term program is made available to workers in the geographic area in which the program is offered4 7ii7 ,the short-term program prepares participants for employment opportunities in high-skill1 high-wage1 or in-demand sectors or occupations in such geographic area4 7iii7 ,the short-term program meets any other requirements that the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7,b7 ,termination of eligible short-term program status ,a short-term program may cease to be an eligible short-term program for purposes of this subsection if not less than #b annual evaluations under paragraph 7#d7 for such program demonstrate that the program does not meet the performance outcomes established by the ,secretary on the metrics described in paragraph 7#d77;,b77ii74 7#d7 ,evaluations and reports 7,a7 ,reports ,not later than #c years after the date that the first ,federal ,pell ,grant is awarded under this subsection1 and on an annual basis thereafter1 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,director of the ,institute of ,education ,sciences1 shall evaluate each short-term program participating under this subsection in accordance with subparagraph 7,b71 and report the results of such evaluation to the authorizing committees4 7,b7 ,evaluation of programs ,an evaluation of a short-term program under subparagraph 7,a7 shall-- 7i7 evaluate the extent to which such short-term program meets the requirements under paragraph 7#c72 and 7ii7 include both qualitative and quantitative evidence of-- 7,i7 the program's alignment with workforce needs1 including placement and retention in jobs related to the training provided by the program2 7,,ii7 the effect1 if any1 this program has on matriculation of students attending #d-year institutions2 7,,iii7 the extent to which students have sought a higher credential or degree or military service2 7,,iv7 employment rates after program completion2 7,v7 earnings 7either average earnings of completers or the share of completers earning more than the average high school graduate72 7,,vi7 program completion rates2 and 7,,vii7 rates of continued education of those who have completed the program4 7#e7 ,sunset ,the ,secretary shall not have the authority to award ,federal ,pell ,grants under this subsection after the date that is #g years after the date of enactment of the ,,start ,career ,pathways ,act4 7#f7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,career and technical education ,the term career and technical education has the meaning given the term in section #c of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcjb74 7,b7 ,high-skill2 high-wage ,the terms high-skill and high-wage are used as such terms are used in the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcja et seq474 7,c7 ,job training program ,the term job training program means a career and technical education program at an institution of higher education that-- 7i7 provides not less than #aej clock hours of instructional time over a period of not less than #h weeks2 7ii7 provides training in partnership with the requirements of employers in the ,state or local area1 which may include high-skill1 high-wage1 or in-demand sectors or occupations in the ,state or local area2 7iii7 provides a student1 upon completion of the program1 with a recognized postsecondary credential1 that is widely recognized by local employers in the relevant industry1 including credentials recognized by industry or sector partnerships in the ,state or local area where the industry is located2 7iv7 utilizes work-based and worksite learning experiences1 where appropriate and available1 that-- 7,i7 are related to the employment for which the program provides training 7such as employment in a sector or occupation described in clause 7ii772 and 7,,ii7 are supervised by an individual with expertise in the field2 and 7v7 has been determined by the institution of higher education 7after validation of that determination by an industry or sector partnership7 to provide academic content1 an amount of instructional time1 and a recognized postsecondary credential that-- 7,i7 meet the hiring requirements of potential local employers2 7,,ii7 allow the students to apply for any licenses or certifications that may be required to be employed in the local field for which the job training is offered2 7,,iii7 may include integrated or basic skills courses2 and 7,,iv7 may be offered as part of an eligible local eligible career pathways program4 7,d7 ,short-term program ,the term short-term program means-- 7i7 a career and technical education program that provides more than #cbj clock hours and less than #fjj clock hours of instruction2 7ii7 an educational or career pathway program that is part of a career pathway2 or 7iii7 a job-training program4 7,e7 ,,wioa terms ,the terms career pathway1 in-demand industry sector or occupation1 and recognized postsecondary credential have the meanings given the terms in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb74 4