,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ebcf ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,november #ba1 #bjai,mr4 ,harder of ,california 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,fitzpatrick1 ,ms4 ,blunt ,rochester1 ,mr4 ,upton1 ,mr4 ,cole1 and ,mr4 ,moulton7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to establish a competitive grant program to support out-of-school-time youth workforce readiness programs1 providing employability skills development1 career exploration1 employment readiness training1 mentoring1 work-based learning1 and workforce opportunities for eligible youth4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,youth ,workforce ,readiness ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to establish or expand activities to-- 7#a7 increase access and opportunities for youth to obtain the education and training that youth need to succeed in the labor market2 7#b7 support engagement in and the integration of programs and activities offered during out-of-school-time hours through the workforce investment1 education1 and economic development systems2 7#c7 improve the quality of the workforce and meet the skill requirements of employers2 7#d7 engage employers in addressing the training1 skill1 and employment needs of youth and youth jobseekers1 and fostering opportunities for connection and economic mobility2 and 7#e7 include younger youth in the education and workforce investment activities in an age and developmentally appropriate manner4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,community-based organization ,the term community-based organization means a youth-serving private nonprofit organization 7which may include a faith-based organization7 that-- 7,a7 is representative of a community or a significant segment of a community2 7,b7 has demonstrated expertise and effectiveness in workforce development2 and 7,c7 has demonstrated expertise-- 7i7 in the planning and delivery of education1 training1 and related activities that are included in a career pathway2 7ii7 in forging coordination and cooperation between educators and other members of the community2 and 7iii7 in development and implementation of data systems that measure the progress of students and outcomes of career pathways4 7#b7 ,covered partnership ,the term covered partnership means a partnership between-- 7,a7 a community-based organization2 and 7,b7 an industry or sector partnership1 a local educational agency1 and another public entity or private employer1 as appropriate4 7#c7 ,eligible youth ,the term eligible youth has the meaning given the term in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb71 except that the individual involved shall be-- 7,a7 not younger than age #f2 and 7,b7 not older than age #ah 7or age #ai if enrolled in secondary school74 7#d7 ,industry or sector partnership ,the term industry or sector partnership means-- 7,a7 an industry or sector partnership1 as defined in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb72 and 7,b7 a collaborative that meets the requirements of paragraph 7#bf7 of that section #c but also includes-- 7i7 an ,indian tribe or tribal organization 7as such terms are defined in section #aff7;b7 of that ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cbba7;b7771 as appropriate2 or 7ii7 a community-based organization4 7#e7 ,out-of-school-time ,the term out-of-school-time1 used with respect to a program described in section #g1 means a supervised program regularly attended by eligible youth1 that fosters learning and development during out-of-school-time hours1 which includes hours before school1 after school1 during summer vacation or another school holiday1 or on a ,saturday or ,sunday4 7#f7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,labor4 7#g7 ,,wioa definitions ,the terms career pathway1 customized training1 in-demand industry sector or occupation1 local area1 local board1 local educational agency1 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 7#h7 ,workforce readiness program ,the term workforce readiness program means an out-of-school-time program that-- 7,a7 meets the requirements of section #g2 7,b7 is offered by a community-based organization of an eligible entity or a related covered partnership2 and 7,c7 is intended to help prepare eligible youth for the workforce4 #d4 ,grant program establishment 7a7 ,grants ,using the amounts made available under section #i1 the ,secretary shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible entities4 7b7 ,general use of funds ,the ,secretary shall award the grants1 on a competitive basis1 to assist eligible entities in planning1 developing1 and implementing nationwide1 comprehensive workforce readiness programs1 that are-- 7#a7 in out-of-school-time programs2 7#b7 carried out by community-based organizations of the eligible entity or related covered partnerships2 and 7#c7 for eligible youth4 7c7 ,periods of grants ,the ,secretary shall award the grants for periods of not less than #c years and not more than #e years4 #e4 ,eligible entities ,to be eligible to receive a grant under section #d1 an entity shall-- 7#a7 7,a7 be a national youth-serving organization with active chapters1 affiliates1 or subgrant recipients1 that are community-based organizations 7including such organizations that are facility-based organizations7 in not fewer than #ce ,states2 and 7,b7 provide programming focused on youth workforce readiness in an out-of-school-time program2 and 7#b7 obtain approval of an application under section #f4 #f4 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under section #d1 an entity shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including-- 7#a7 a description of how the entity will implement a youth workforce readiness program in a manner that ensures an equitable geographic distribution of program activities1 including an equitable distribution between urban and rural communities2 7#b7 a description of the proposed program activities to be funded and their locations2 7#c7 a description of populations of eligible youth to be served1 including populations living in or from underserved communities or communities with employment disparities2 7#d7 a description of the effective strategies1 best practices1 or evidence-based practices the workforce readiness program will use2 7#e7 an assurance that the program will take place in safe and easily accessible facilities2 7#f7 a demonstration of how1 in implementing the proposed program activities1 the entity will coordinate activities with ,federal1 ,state1 and local programs and make the most effective use of public resources2 7#g7 a description of-- 7,a7 the community-based organizations or the covered partnerships through which the entity will implement the program2 and 7,b7 if a covered partnership will assist in implementing the program1 the collaboration and coordination activities that the community-based organization in the partnership has carried out or will carry out with other entities in the partnership1 related to that implementation2 7#h7 if the program includes an opportunity to earn a recognized postsecondary credential1 a description of the activities leading to the credential2 7#i7 an assurance that funds provided under this ,act will be used to supplement and not supplant other ,federal1 ,state1 or local funds expended to provide youth programs or workforce readiness programs2 and 7#aj7 a budget detailing program activities and administrative costs4 #g4 ,program activities 7a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under section #d shall use the grant funds-- 7#a7 if the entity seeks to implement the workforce readiness program through a covered partnership1 to establish the partnership2 and 7#b7 to carry out the development and implementation of a youth workforce readiness program-- 7,a7 that includes services to help prepare eligible youth who are not younger than age #ae for the workforce1 which services shall include-- 7i7 support for the use of career pathways2 7ii7 paid and unpaid work experiences that have as a component academic and occupational education1 which may include-- 7,i7 summer employment opportunities and other employment opportunities available throughout the school year2 7,,ii7 pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs registered under the ,national ,apprenticeship ,act2 7,,iii7 internships and job shadowing2 and 7,,iv7 on-the-job training opportunities2 7iii7 work-based learning 7as defined in section #c of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcjb77 that provides opportunities for the application of employability skills1 and hands-on work experiences through covered partnerships2 7iv7 occupational skill training1 which shall include priority consideration for training programs that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials that are aligned with in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the local area involved1 if the local board determines that the programs meet the quality criteria described in section #abc of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caec72 7v7 the provision of customized training2 7vi7 education offered concurrently with and in the same context as workforce readiness activities and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster2 and 7vii7 activities that help youth prepare for and transition to postsecondary education and training2 7,b7 that includes services to help prepare eligible youth for the workforce1 which services shall include-- 7i7 leadership development opportunities1 which may include community service and peer-centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive social and civic behaviors1 as appropriate2 7ii7 workforce or workforce readiness opportunities2 7iii7 supportive services2 7iv7 adult mentoring for the period of participation and a subsequent period1 for a total of not less than #ab months2 7v7 comprehensive guidance and counseling1 which may include drug and alcohol abuse1 prevention services1 counseling and referral1 as appropriate2 7vi7 financial literacy education2 7vii7 entrepreneurial skills training2 7viii7 services that provide labor market and employment information about in-demand industry sectors or occupations available in the local area1 such as career awareness1 career counseling1 and career exploration services2 7ix7 activities to develop fundamental workforce readiness skills1 or to develop employability skills 7such as communication1 creativity1 collaboration1 and critical thinking7 that support social-emotional development through every developmental stage1 in both formal and informal learning experiences2 7x7 academic counseling to support workforce readiness2 and 7xi7 career exposure1 through mentoring and targeted programming1 offered by local industry or sector partnerships1 to provide career assessments and education and career planning2 and 7,c7 that may include-- 7i7 the provision of professional development 7as defined in section #c of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcjb77 for training educators and other providers of educational services who participate in the workforce readiness program2 and 7ii7 developing assets and resources that assist an employer or groups of employers or sectors in working with eligible youth4 7b7 ,subgrants ,the eligible entity may use the grant funds1 with the approval of the ,secretary1 to award subgrants to eligible organizations to carry out activities through a youth workforce readiness program4 #h4 ,evaluation and reporting 7a7 ,measures of effectiveness 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity that implements a youth workforce readiness program under this ,act shall-- 7,a7 ensure that the program is-- 7i7 based upon an assessment of objective data regarding the need for such a program in the communities served2 and 7ii7 evaluated on an established set of performance measures aimed at ensuring the availability of high-quality opportunities by measuring eligible youth success2 and 7,b7 collect the data necessary for the measures of eligible youth success described in subparagraph 7,a77ii74 7#b7 ,measures ,the performance measures 7including indicators7 that will be used to evaluate the youth workforce readiness programs-- 7,a7 shall be aligned with the regular academic program of the school of and the academic needs of participating eligible youth2 and 7,b7 shall include performance measures that-- 7i7 are able to track the success 7such as improvement over time7 of eligible youth2 and 7ii7 include assessment results and other indicators of eligible youth success1 such as improved attendance during the school day1 better classroom grades1 regular 7or consistent7 program attendance1 and on-time advancement to the next grade level2 and 7,c7 for high school students1 may include indicators such as achievement of career competencies1 or successful completion of internships1 apprenticeships1 or work-based learning opportunities1 or high school graduation4 7b7 ,periodic evaluation 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall conduct a periodic evaluation of the eligible entity1 to assess the progress of the entity's youth workforce readiness program toward ensuring high-quality opportunities by measuring eligible youth success4 7#b7 ,use of results ,the results of evaluations under paragraph 7#a7 shall be-- 7,a7 used to refine1 improve1 and strengthen the program1 and to refine the performance measures2 and 7,b7 used by the ,secretary to determine whether a grant for a program is eligible to be renewed under section #d4 7c7 ,reporting ,the ,secretary shall submit a report containing the results of the evaluation to the appropriate committees of ,congress1 and make the report available to the public4 #i4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act #ajj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd4 #aj4 ,reestablishment of youth councils ,section #ajg of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cabb7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7j7 ,youth council 7#a7 ,establishment ,there shall be established1 as a subgroup within each local board1 a youth council appointed by the local board1 in cooperation with the chief elected official for the local area4 7#b7 ,membership ,the membership of each youth council shall include representatives with special interest or professional expertise with youth workforce development programs1 activities related to youth workforce readiness1 youth workforce investment activities1 local labor or joint labor-management organizations1 and education related representatives-- 7,a7 membership may include-- 7i7 members of the local board with special interest or expertise in youth workforce readiness or youth workforce development2 7ii7 local labor or joint labor-management organizations with a special interest or expertise in youth workforce readiness or youth workforce development2 representatives of the workforce1 in the local area1 with a special interest or expertise in youth workforce readiness or youth workforce development2 7iii7 representatives of entities administering education and training activities1 including career and technical education activities1 in the local area1 with special interest or expertise in youth workforce readiness or youth workforce development2 7iv7 representatives of youth service agencies1 including juvenile justice1 local law enforcement agencies1 and representatives of local public housing authorities2 7v7 parents of eligible youth1 and current or former youth program participants2 7vi7 representatives of vulnerable populations 7including but not limited to foster youth1 minority youth1 and youth with disabilities72 7vii7 community representatives1 employers of eligible youth1 and ,workplace ,learning ,advisors 7as defined in section #c of ,,wioa71 with experience relating to youth workforce activities2 and 7viii7 representatives of the ,job ,corps2 and 7,b7 may include such other individuals as the chairperson of the local board1 in cooperation with the chief elected official1 determines to be appropriate4 7#c7 ,relationship to local board ,members of the youth council who are not otherwise members of the local board shall be voting members of the youth council and nonvoting members of the board4 7#d7 ,duties ,the duties of the youth council shall include-- 7,a7 representing the interests of youth before the local board2 7,b7 collaborating with the local board to ensure programs address youth workforce development and youth workforce readiness2 and 7,c7 advising the local board on the inclusion and incorporation of the local youth workforce in decisions as appropriate4 7k7 ,recommendations ,amend ,,wioa to include ,youth ,councils as a required section of the ,state and local plan1 including how they are incorporating the recommendations of the youth councils1 including in the annual report have a requirement to report on activities related to council's recommendations4 4