,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hdad ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #bi1 #bjbj ,mr4 ,castro of ,texas 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,guthrie1 and ,ms4 ,spanberger7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,labor to award grants to eligible entities to carry out or expand youth apprenticeship programs4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,strengthening ,youth ,apprenticeships ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,interagency agreement 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the effective date of the ,national ,apprenticeship ,act of #bjbj1 in order to cooperate with the ,secretary of ,education and promote awareness and adoption of apprenticeship programs1 the ,secretary 7acting through the ,administrator7 shall-- 7#a7 enter into an interagency agreement with the ,secretary of ,education to promote and support integration and alignment of programs under the national apprenticeship system with secondary1 postsecondary1 and adult education1 through the activities described in this section2 and 7#b7 submit to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of ,senate1 such agreement and any modifications to such agreement4 7b7 ,alignment for youth apprenticeships ,in order to promote alignment between youth apprenticeship programs and high school graduation requirements1 the interagency agreement under subsection 7a7 shall describe how the ,secretaries will work to provide-- 7#a7 information and resources to-- 7,a7 parents and students to promote a better understanding of programs under the national apprenticeship system and their value in secondary and postsecondary education and career pathways by not later than middle school2 and 7,b7 school leaders 7working with academic counselors1 teachers1 and faculty7 about the value of such programs and information on how to effectively align youth apprenticeship programs with secondary and career and technical education programs2 and 7#b7 technical assistance on how to-- 7,a7 align related instruction and apprenticeable occupation skills and competencies to high school graduation requirements2 7,b7 offer related instruction through dual and concurrent enrollment programs and other accelerated learning programs1 as described in section #dajd7;b77#c77;,a77i77,,iv7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #gaad7;b77#c77;,a77i77,,iv772 7,c7 facilitate transitions for youth apprentices who have completed their youth apprenticeships into further education1 including an associate1 baccalaureate1 or advanced degree1 and related apprenticeship opportunities2 and 7,d7 align activities carried out under this ,act with eligible funding from1 and planning processes1 for the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcja et seq471 the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcja et seq471 the ,individuals with ,disabilities ,education ,act1 the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc1 and the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife4 #c4 ,grant program authorized 7a7 ,in general ,from the amounts appropriated under section #g1 the ,secretary of ,labor1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,education1 shall award grants to eligible entities to create or expand youth apprenticeship programs4 7b7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this ,act1 the ,secretary shall prioritize eligible entities that will use the grant to carry out or expand youth apprenticeship programs for individuals that include nontraditional apprenticeship populations4 7c7 ,geographic distribution ,in awarding grants under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall1 to the extent practicable1 ensure an equitable geographic distribution of grants1 including an equitable distribution among ,states1 within ,states1 and to urban and rural areas #d4 ,applications ,an eligible entity desiring to receive a grant under this ,act shall submit an application to the ,secretary1 at such time1 in such manner1 and which shall include the following3 7#a7 ,how the youth apprenticeship program the eligible entity will expand or carry out using the grant will meet the best practices and joint guidance developed under section #b4 7#b7 ,how such program will be aligned with and fulfill the indicators described in section #f7;a74 7#c7 ,how such program will prepare individuals for work in high-skill1 high-wage1 or in-demand industry sectors or occupations4 7#d7 ,how such program will recruit and retain to ensure that non-traditional apprenticeship populations participate in such program4 7#e7 ,how such program will1 to the extent practicable1 align with high school diploma requirements and career cluster4 7#f7 ,the ability of the applicant1 directly or through partners to enroll1 instruct1 advance1 and graduate youth apprentices served by the grant activities1 and enable the participants to enroll in further education1 gain employment after program completion4 7#g7 ,an assurance that the eligible entity will-- 7,a7 provide information to the ,administrator1 as requested1 for any such evaluations as the ,administrator may carry out2 7,b7 make program performance outcome data available 7in accordance with applicable data privacy laws1 including section #ddd of the ,general ,education ,provisions ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #abcb;g77 to independent evaluators to enable the evaluators to prepare the evaluations and reports under section #f2 and 7,c7 coordinate grant activities with a ,state ,apprenticeship ,agency1 if such agency exists in the ,state where the eligible entity is applying for a grant or carrying out activities4 #e4 ,grant uses of funds 7a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this ,act shall use the grant funds that are not reserved under subsection 7b7 to carry out or expand a youth apprenticeship program1 which may include using the grant funds for #a or more of the following3 7#a7 ,recruitment1 retention1 and completion of such program4 7#b7 ,program alignment with the challenging ,state academic standards adopted by the ,state in which the program will be expanded or carried out under section #aaaa7;b77#a7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;b77#a77 with the technical skills and career competencies that are applicable to and transferable to high-skill1 high-wage1 or in-demand industry sectors or occupations4 7#c7 ,paying for the costs associated with curriculum development and alignment of that curriculum with industry-recognized credentials1 high school graduation requirements1 and related instruction1 including curriculum development for dual or concurrent enrollment4 7#d7 ,facilitating or expanding partnerships with a community college or consortium of community colleges to help with transferability of credits and the increased use of dual and concurrent enrollment programs4 7#e7 ,engaging employers for participation in youth apprenticeship programs1 which may include3 7,a7 ,creating and expanding industry or sector partnerships for the purpose of supporting new program development or program expansion4 7,b7 ,providing employers technical assistance to support the participation of youth apprentices under the age of #ah4 7,c7 ,providing technical assistance to support the participation of small- and medium-sized businesses in youth apprenticeship programs4 7#f7 ,providing supportive services and career planning activities1 including career exploration of postsecondary opportunities such as apprenticeship programs1 for the participants of the youth apprenticeship program1 which may include-- 7,a7 promoting the early exposure of students to the opportunities and requirements of apprenticeship programs2 7,b7 creating opportunities for students to explore a career and develop occupational skills while in high school2 and 7,c7 supporting the costs associated with fees1 transportation1 child care1 or mobility challenges4 7#g7 ,providing teachers1 career guidance and academic counselors1 school leaders1 administrators1 specialized instructional support personnel1 and paraprofessionals with professional development opportunities to build an understanding of apprenticeship opportunities available to students1 including experiential opportunities like externships4 7b7 ,reservation of funds ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this ,act shall reserve not less than #e percent of the grant funds to provide direct financial assistance for recruitment1 retention1 and completion efforts with respect to the youth apprenticeship program1 such as housing1 transportation1 childcare1 food insecurity1 and health issues4 #f4 ,evaluation 7a7 ,in general ,each eligible entity receiving a grant under this ,act shall submit1 on an annual basis1 to the ,secretary a performance report with respect to the participants of the youth apprenticeship program receiving assistance under this ,act that measures-- 7#a7 the percentage of program participants who are in education or training activities1 or in unsubsidized employment1 during the second quarter after exit from the program2 7#b7 the percentage of program participants who are in education or training activities1 or in unsubsidized employment1 during the fourth quarter after exit from the program2 7#c7 the median earnings of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program2 7#d7 the percentage of program participants who obtain1 during participation in or within #a year after exit from the program-- 7,a7 a recognized postsecondary credential2 or 7,b7 a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent1 as measured by-- 7i7 the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate 7defined in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife72 and 7ii7 at the ,state's discretion1 the extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate defined in such section #haja2 7#e7 the percentage of program participants who1 during a program year1 are in an education or training program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential or employment and who are achieving measurable skill gains toward such a credential or employment2 and 7#f7 the percentage of program participants who are in employment1 an apprenticeship1 or other education and training activities in an industry sector or occupation for which the youth apprenticeship program provides preparation4 7b7 ,disaggregation ,each performance report submitted under subsection 7a7 shall be disaggregated by race1 ethnicity1 sex1 age1 and membership in a population specified in section #c7bd7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb7bd774 #g4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this ,act for fiscal year #bjba and each of the #d succeeding fiscal years4 #h4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,apprenticeship program ,the term apprenticeship program means an apprenticeship program registered under the ,act of ,august #af1 #aicg 7commonly known as the ,national ,apprenticeship ,act2 #ej ,stat4 #ffd1 chapter #ffc2 #bi ,u4,s4,c4 #ej et seq474 7#b7 ,community college ,the term community college means a public institution of higher education at which the highest degree awarded is an associate's degree4 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means a partnership that-- 7,a7 shall include-- 7i7 #a or more of the entities listed in clauses 7i7 through 7iv7 or clause 7vii7 of section #c7ai77;,a7 of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcjb7ai77;,a772 and 7ii7 #a or more community colleges2 and 7,b7 to the extent practicable1 shall include-- 7i7 a ,state or local board2 7ii7 an industry or sector partnership2 7iii7 a community-based organization2 and 7iv7 the ,state ,apprenticeship ,agency1 if such agency exists in the ,state in which the grant is awarded4 7#d7 ,,esea terms ,the terms dual or concurrent enrollment program1 ,english learner1 high school1 local educational agency1 and secondary school have the meanings given the terms in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#e7 ,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#f7 ,non-traditional apprenticeship populations ,the term non-traditional apprenticeship populations means individuals who are of a gender or from a race or ethnicity that comprises less than #be percent of the individuals participating in apprenticeship programs4 7#g7 ,,wioa terms ,the terms local board1 community-based organization1 in-demand industry sector or occupation1 and industry or sector partnership have the meanings given the terms in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb74 7#h7 ,youth apprenticeship program ,the term youth apprenticeship program means a program designed for youth apprentices who at the start of the program are enrolled in high school and includes each of the following core elements3 7,a7 ,the employment and training to be received by each youth apprentice participating in the program1 including-- 7i7 an outline of the work processes or plan in which the youth apprentice will receive supervised work experience and training on the job or in an experiential setting2 7ii7 the allocation of the approximate amount of time to be spent in each major work process2 7iii7 mentoring that will be provided to the youth apprentice2 and 7iv7 a description or timeline explaining the periodic reviews and evaluations of the youth apprentice's performance on the job and in related instruction4 7,b7 ,a process for maintaining appropriate progress records1 including the evaluations described in section #f4 7,c7 ,related classroom-based instruction1 which may be fulfilled through dual or concurrent enrollment1 and is1 to the extent practicable1 aligned with high school diploma requirements and career clusters4 7,d7 ,a progressively increasing1 clearly defined schedule of wages to be paid to the youth apprentice4 7,e7 ,provides all individuals with an equal opportunity to participate in youth apprenticeships under the program1 including through the method for the selection of youth apprentices4 7,f7 ,the methods used to measure skill acquisition for an apprentice1 including ongoing assessment against established skill and competency standards1 established against skill and competency standards4 7,g7 ,prepares the youth apprentice for placement in further education1 employment1 or an apprenticeship program4 7,h7 ,the program-- 7i7 has adequate and safe equipment1 environments1 and facilities for training and supervision2 7ii7 provides safety training on-the-job and in related instruction as applicable by apprenticeable occupation2 and 7iii7 provides adequate training for mentors and qualified instructors on providing a safe work and training environment4 7,i7 ,the program awards a certificate of completion in recognition of successful completion of the program1 evidenced by an appropriate certificate issued by the registration agency1 and culminates in a recognized postsecondary credential4 7,j7 ,the program provides that an individual who is to become a youth apprentice enters into a written apprenticeship agreement with the sponsor of the program4