,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bhii ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #ai1 #bjai,mr4 ,bennet introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife to support apprenticeship programs4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,student ,apprenticeship ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,apprenticeship programs ,title ,,vii of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aacc et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,f ,apprenticeship programs #gia4 ,grants to support apprenticeship programs 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,apprenticeship program ,the term apprenticeship program means a program that is 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 seq47 on ,november #g1 #bjai1 and is in compliance with the regulations promulgated to carry out such ,act under part #bi of title #bi1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 as in effect on the date of introduction of this ,act in the ,senate4 7#b7 ,postsecondary apprenticeship program ,the term postsecondary apprenticeship program means an apprenticeship program that meets the requirements of a recognized postsecondary credential conferred by an institution of higher education as established by the relevant ,state agency in the ,state where the program is delivered4 7#c7 ,recognized postsecondary credential ,the term recognized postsecondary credential means a credential consisting of an industry-recognized certificate1 that is credit-bearing at the institution of higher education from which it is conferred1 or an associate or baccalaureate degree4 7#d7 ,student apprentice ,the term student apprentice means an individual who is-- 7,a7 enrolled or accepted for enrollment at an institution of higher education for the purpose of obtaining a recognized postsecondary credential 7which provides credit toward a postsecondary degree7 offered by that institution and is a participant in a postsecondary apprenticeship program2 and 7,b7 a worker at least #af years of age1 except where a higher minimum age standard is otherwise fixed by law1 who is employed to learn an apprenticeable occupation1 as described in section #bi4d of title #bi1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7as in effect on ,november #g1 #bjai71 under standards of apprenticeship fulfilling the requirements of section #bi4e of title #bi1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7as in effect on ,november #g1 #bjai74 7#e7 ,workforce intermediary ,the term workforce intermediary-- 7,a7 means an entity1 which may be part of an industry or sector partnership1 that demonstrates expertise in building1 connecting1 sustaining1 and measuring the performance of partnerships in order for the entity to broker services1 resources1 and supports for development1 delivery1 expansion1 or improvement of postsecondary apprenticeship programs1 and of the organizations and systems that are designed to serve covered student apprentices and employer partners1 including-- 7i7 connecting employers to apprenticeship opportunities2 7ii7 assisting in the design and implementation of postsecondary apprenticeship programs1 including curriculum development and delivery for related instruction2 7iii7 supporting entities1 and sponsors or program administrators1 in meeting the registration and reporting requirements2 7iv7 providing professional development activities such as training to mentors2 7v7 connecting students or workers to apprenticeship opportunities2 and 7vi7 developing and providing personalized covered apprentice supports1 including supportive services and financial advising2 and 7,b7 includes a ,state workforce development board or local workforce development board1 as established under title ,i of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act1 or ,state workforce agency4 7b7 ,grant program 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 in collaboration with the ,secretary of ,labor1 shall award grants to eligible partnerships to enable the partnerships to develop and implement a postsecondary apprenticeship program4 7#b7 ,duration ,grants awarded under this section shall be #d or #e years in duration4 7#c7 ,eligible partnership 7,a7 ,in general ,in this section1 the term eligible partnership means a partnership that-- 7i7 shall include-- 7,i7 an institution of higher education or a consortium of such institutions2 7,,ii7 an individual employer or consortium of employers2 and 7,,iii7 a workforce intermediary1 unless waived by the ,secretary because the partnership demonstrates that a high-quality program is in place or it would be a hardship to include a workforce intermediary2 and 7ii7 may include-- 7,i7 a ,state agency responsible for the administration of career and technical education in the ,state or for the supervision of the administration of career and technical education in the ,state2 7,,ii7 a labor organization2 7,,iii7 an economic development agency or organization1 such as a chamber of commerce1 business alliance1 or industry association2 7,,iv7 a community-based organization2 7,v7 a ,state educational agency2 or 7,,vi7 a local educational agency4 7,b7 ,fiscal agent ,the lead fiscal agent of an eligible partnership shall be any of the following3 7i7 ,an institution of higher education4 7ii7 ,an industry association4 7iii7 ,a workforce intermediary that is an entity that is described in section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and exempt from taxation under section #eja7;a7 of such ,code4 7#d7 ,application 7,a7 ,in general ,an eligible partnership that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such information as the ,secretary may require4 7,b7 ,inclusions ,an application submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall include-- 7i7 a plan to recruit and retain a high number or high percentage of participants who are from nontraditional apprenticeship populations1 including women1 minorities1 individuals with disabilities1 veterans1 and individuals with barriers to employment1 such as opportunity youth1 low-income youth and adults1 young adults and adults of color1 and individuals who have been impacted by the criminal justice system2 7ii7 letters of support and a labor market analysis that demonstrate that the occupation for which the program prepares participants-- 7,i7 is feasible and in demand2 7,,ii7 is a high growth1 high wage occupation2 and 7,,iii7 is a response to in-demand industry sectors or occupations as determined by the ,state or local workforce boards2 7iii7 a plan for reaching desired outcomes1 as described in paragraph 7#g72 7iv7 a plan for ensuring that the partnership has the capacity to access data to measure desired outcomes and the outcomes described in clause 7v72 and 7v7 a plan for-- 7,i7 increasing associate or baccalaureate degree and credential attainment2 7,,ii7 how tuition and mandatory fees expenses will be covered with the goal of the program being tuition free and debt free for students2 7,,iii7 the employer of the partnership to cover not less than #be percent of the tuition and mandatory fees2 7,,iv7 sustaining the program for at least #bj months beyond the grant period2 and 7,v7 including a provider of support or specialized services1 such as financial counseling4 7,c7 ,description of instruction ,in addition to the information described in subparagraph 7,b71 an application submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall include a description of the organized1 related instruction the apprentice will receive in technical subjects related to the occupation for which the program prepares participants1 which-- 7i7 shall include not less than #bjjj hours of on the job learning and a recommended #add hours for each year 7with an allowance for a student to spread it out over #b years7 of related technical instruction unless an alternative requirement is put forth by the employer and sponsor that reflects industry standards and is accepted by the ,secretary2 7ii7 may be accomplished through credit-bearing classroom instruction1 occupational or industry courses1 instruction provided through electronic media1 or other instruction approved by the registration agency2 7iii7 shall be provided by one or more qualified instructors who-- 7,i7 7aa7 meet the career technical education instructor requirements of the applicable education agency of the ,state of registration2 or 7bb7 are subject matter experts1 defined for purposes of this subparagraph as individuals 7including journeyworkers7 recognized within an industry as having expertise in a specific occupation2 and 7,,ii7 have training in teaching techniques and learning styles or will obtain such training before an instructor begins providing the related technical instruction2 and 7iv7 shall1 to the maximum extent practicable1 be aligned to a career pathway1 as defined in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act4 7#e7 ,selection ,the ,secretary shall1 in selecting eligible partnerships to receive grants under this section-- 7,a7 consider the equitable geographic distribution of grants among rural and urban areas2 and 7,b7 leverage significant ,state1 local1 institutional1 or private resources1 including in-kind contributions1 to support the activities assisted under this section4 7#f7 ,use of grant funds 7,a7 ,in general ,an eligible partnership that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to develop and implement a postsecondary apprenticeship program in high-skill1 high-wage1 and in-demand industry sectors or occupations4 7,b7 ,permissible use of funds ,an eligible partnership that receives a grant under this section to develop and implement a postsecondary apprenticeship program may use the grant funds for any of the following3 7i7 ,program design and implementation costs1 including-- 7,i7 development of curricula and standards2 7,,ii7 development of a competency-based approach to awarding credits2 and 7,,iii7 use of subject matter experts in instructional delivery or curriculum design4 7ii7 ,development of on-the-job learning1 mentoring1 and additional supervision structures and professional development for mentors and supervisors4 7iii7 ,tuition for the related instruction of the apprenticeship4 7iv7 ,development of articulation agreements with institutions of higher education that result in awarding an associate's or higher degree4 7v7 ,assessment of prior learning for the purpose of awarding credit4 7vi7 ,certifying examinations4 7vii7 ,recruitment of student apprentices4 7viii7 ,need-based supportive services1 including tutoring1 transportation1 child care1 and housing subsidies4 7ix7 ,not more than #bj percent of grant funds for the purchase of updated equipment4 7x7 ,not more than #aj percent of grant funds for administrative functions1 such as program management and grant reporting4 7xi7 ,aligning data reporting for academic programs and apprenticeships4 7,c7 ,prohibited use of funds ,an eligible partnership that receives a grant under this section may not use any of the grant funds directly to pay wages to a student apprentice4 7#g7 ,assessment ,an eligible partnership that receives a grant under this section shall monitor and report on the following participant-level outcomes3 7,a7 ,with respect to interim outcomes-- 7i7 the number of student apprentices in the program2 7ii7 the percentage of participants who are from nontraditional apprenticeship populations1 including women1 historically underrepresented groups1 individuals with disabilities1 veterans1 and individuals with barriers to employment2 7iii7 outcomes for the participants described in clause 7ii72 7iv7 the accumulation of postsecondary credit2 7v7 the attainment of a recognized postsecondary credential2 and 7vi7 wage increases realized during the course of the apprenticeship4 7,b7 ,completions-- 7i7 that are on time1 disaggregated by credit1 credential1 or degree received2 and 7ii7 that are within #aej percent of the expected time of completion1 disaggregated by credit1 credential1 or degree received4 7,c7 ,with respect to end-of-program outcomes for both participants who complete the program and participants who do not complete the program each of the following3 7i7 ,the accumulation of postsecondary credit toward a degree reported not later than one year after the end of the grant period4 7ii7 ,the share of enrolled students who attain a postsecondary degree reported not later than one year after the end of the grant period4 7iii7 ,the share of enrolled students who attain a recognized postsecondary credential reported not later than one year after the end of the grant period4 7iv7 ,subsequent enrollment in advanced education1 disaggregated by level4 7v7 ,whether the place of employment for participants aligns with area of study disaggregated by students who completed the program and students who did not complete the program reported not later than one year after the end of the grant period4 ,such data may be collected through a survey4 7vi7 ,unsubsidized employment rate after the second quarter after exit from the program4 7vii7 ,unsubsidized employment rate after the fourth quarter after exit from the program4 7viii7 ,median earnings after the second and fourth quarters after exit from the program4 7c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year #bjbj and each of the #e succeeding fiscal years4 4 #c4 ,federal ,work ,study funding ,section #ddb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhg-eb7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7f7 ,funding for student apprentices 7#a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding any other provision of this part and subject to paragraph 7#b7-- 7,a7 the apprenticeship program of a student apprentice 7as defined in section #gia7 shall qualify as a work-study program that is eligible for assistance under this part2 and 7,b7 funds appropriated to carry out this part may be used by the ,secretary to pay the tuition of such student apprentices except that ,federal work study should not supplant the wages of student apprentices4 7#b7 ,employer contribution ,an employer of a student apprentice under an apprenticeship program that qualifies as a work-study program that is eligible for assistance under this part shall pay not less than the non-,federal share equal to #be percent of the compensation of such student apprentice4 4