,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bdjb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #ai1 #bjbc,ms4 ,hassan 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,young1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 and ,ms4 ,collins7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act to establish a career pathways grant program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,gateway to ,careers ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,career ,pathways ,grant ,program 7a7 ,in general ,subtitle ,d of title ,i of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cbba et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #agc4 ,career ,pathways ,grant ,program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,career pathway partnership applicant 7,a7 ,in general ,the term career pathway partnership applicant means a partnership that includes-- 7i7 a workforce development partner2 and 7ii7 an education partner4 7,b7 ,workforce development partner ,a workforce development partner described in subparagraph 7,a7 means one or more of the following3 7i7 ,a local board4 7ii7 ,an industry association or other representative of multiple employers in the target industry1 including an eligible industry or sector partnership4 7iii7 ,a community-based organization with experience in providing employment1 education1 or support services relevant to the career pathway and student populations receiving services under the grant under this section4 7,c7 ,education partner ,an education partner described in subparagraph 7,a7 means one or more of the following3 7i7 ,an institution of higher education1 as defined in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja71 or a postsecondary vocational institution1 as defined in section #ajb7;c7 of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb7;c774 7ii7 ,an area career and technical education school that provides education at the postsecondary level4 7iii7 ,a local educational agency1 as defined under section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7iv7 ,an eligible provider1 as defined under section #bjc4 7#b7 ,eligible industry or sector partnership ,the term eligible industry or sector partnership means-- 7,a7 an industry or sector partnership1 which shall1 at a minimum1 include multiple representatives described in each of clauses 7i7 through 7iii7 of paragraph 7#bf77;,a7 of section #c2 or 7,b7 a partnership1 of multiple entities described in section #c7bf7 and a ,state board or local board1 that is in the process of establishing an industry or sector partnership4 7#c7 ,measurable skill gains ,the term measurable skill gains has the meaning given the term in section #cfa4aee7;a77#a77v7 of title #cd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations74 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,labor4 7b7 ,program established ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,education1 shall establish a career pathway grant program1 through which the ,secretary shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to ,state workforce agencies to enable the ,state workforce agencies to award subgrants to career pathway partnership applicants to carry out the activities described in subsection 7e74 7c7 ,application for grants ,a ,state workforce agency that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time and in such manner as the ,secretary may require4 7d7 ,geographic equity ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall ensure an equitable geographic distribution of such grants1 including to rural areas and other regions that have traditionally been underserved by regional economic development and industry or sector partnership activities4 7e7 ,subgrants to career pathway partnership applicants and technical assistance 7#a7 ,in general ,a ,state workforce agency that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds-- 7,a7 to award subgrants to career pathway partnership applicants2 and 7,b7 to provide technical assistance in applying for subgrants under this section to eligible career pathway partnership applicants4 7#b7 ,applications ,a career pathway partnership applicant desiring to receive a subgrant under this section shall submit an application to the ,state workforce agency1 at such time and in such manner as the ,state workforce agency may require4 ,such application shall include the following information3 7,a7 ,a description of the career pathway program that will be supported under the subgrant1 including a description of the in-demand industry sectors or occupations that will be targeted and the recognized postsecondary credentials to be awarded4 7,b7 ,a description of how the career pathway program supported under the subgrant is aligned and coordinated with other employment1 education1 and support services offered in the geographic area served under the subgrant1 including those provided under this ,act1 the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja et seq471 the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcja et seq471 the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq471 and the program of block grants to ,states for temporary assistance for needy families under part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fja et seq474 7,c7 ,a description of the populations that will be served under the subgrant1 including an analysis of any barriers to employment1 including in postsecondary education1 access1 and completion1 that such populations face1 and an analysis of how the services to be provided under the subgrant will address those barriers4 7,d7 ,a description of the activities and services to be provided under this subgrant1 consistent with paragraph 7#d74 7,e7 ,a description of the performance outcomes that the career pathway partnership applicant plans to achieve1 including a description of how the career pathway partnership applicant will evaluate and measure student progress and measurable skill gains along a career pathway4 7,f7 ,such other information as the ,state workforce agency may require4 7#c7 ,priority ,in awarding subgrants under this subsection1 the ,state workforce agency shall-- 7,a7 give priority to career pathway partnership applicants that include as a partner in the partnership a public institution of higher education at which the highest degree that is predominantly awarded to students is an associate's degree1 including #b-year ,tribal ,colleges or ,universities under section #caf of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;c7 and public #b-year ,state institutions of higher education2 7,b7 give priority to career pathway partnership applicants that seek to serve individuals with a barrier to employment or individuals with a barrier to postsecondary education2 and 7,c7 give priority to career pathway partnership applicants that will use subgrant funds for an activity1 strategy1 or intervention that-- 7i7 demonstrates a statistically significant effect on improving student outcomes or other relevant outcomes based on-- 7,i7 strong evidence from not less than #a well-designed and well-implemented experimental study2 7,,ii7 moderate evidence from not less than #a well-designed and well-implemented quasi-experimental study2 or 7,,iii7 promising evidence from not less than #a well-designed and well-implemented correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias2 7ii7 demonstrates a rationale based on high quality research finding or positive evaluation that such activity1 strategy1 or intervention is likely to improve student outcomes or other relevant outcomes2 and 7iii7 includes ongoing efforts to examine the effects of such activity1 strategy1 or intervention4 7#d7 ,use of funds 7,a7 ,developing and implementing career pathway programs ,a career pathway partnership applicant that receives a subgrant under this subsection shall use the subgrant funds to carry out activities that support the development and implementation of a career pathway program1 which shall include one or more of the following3 7i7 ,the planning and implementation of agreements between the partners of the career pathway partnership applicant to support seamless transitions between elements of the career pathway program offered by different partners1 as appropriate4 7ii7 ,the development and expansion of new or existing programs at the career pathway partnership applicant that utilize integrated education and training strategies1 and support multiple entry and exit points for working learners1 which may include-- 7,i7 dual-enrollment approaches for secondary students or disconnected youth seeking to participate in a career pathway program2 and 7,,ii7 strategies that help working students and other nontraditional and adult student populations access skills and recognized credentials4 7iii7 ,the provision of evidence-based professional development for faculty and other staff at the career pathway partnership applicant4 7iv7 ,the acquisition of equipment necessary to support the delivery of career pathway programs supported through the subgrant4 7v7 ,any other evidence-based activities identified by the career pathway partnership applicant as necessary to support the development or implementation of career pathway programs1 as long as such activities are clearly outlined in the subgrant application4 7,b7 ,student support services ,in addition to the activities described in subparagraph 7,a71 a career pathway partnership applicant receiving a subgrant under this subsection shall use subgrant funds to provide student support services to students engaged in career pathway programs1 which may include-- 7i7 the provision of direct support services such as childcare1 transportation1 mental health and substance use disorder treatment1 assistance in obtaining health insurance coverage1 and assistance in accessing the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq471 the special supplemental nutrition program for women1 infants1 and children established by section #ag of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf71 housing1 and other benefits1 as appropriate2 7ii7 offering career pathway navigation and case management services1 including providing information and outreach to target populations to encourage individuals to take part in programs and service offerings2 and 7iii7 the provision of emergency grants to help students facing financial hardships that may impact enrollment or completion of an element of a career pathway program4 7#e7 ,reports 7,a7 ,report to the ,secretary ,each ,state workforce agency receiving a grant under this section shall submit a report to the ,secretary1 on an annual basis1 describing-- 7i7 the activities provided under the subgrants awarded under this section1 including activities carried out directly by career pathway partnership applicants2 7ii7 the students receiving services under the subgrants1 disaggregated by age1 race or ethnicity1 gender1 barriers to employment1 and income2 7iii7 the quality of jobs in which students receiving services through a career pathway program carried out through subgrants under this section are employed after exit from the program2 and 7iv7 indicators of performance for students receiving services through a career pathway program carried out through subgrants under this section1 disaggregated by participant type as described in clause 7ii71 including1 at a minimum-- 7,i7 the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment prior to enrollment in the career pathway program2 7,,ii7 the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program2 7,,iii7 the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit from the program2 7,,iv7 the median earnings of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment prior to enrollment in the career pathway program2 7,v7 the median earnings of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program2 7,,vi7 the percentage of program participants who obtain a recognized postsecondary credential1 or a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent1 during participation in or within #a year after exit from the program2 7,,vii7 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,,viii7 the percentage of program participants receiving support services1 disaggregated by type of service4 7,b7 ,report to ,congress ,the ,secretary shall submit a report to ,congress1 on a biennial basis1 on the information submitted to the ,secretary under subparagraph 7,a74 7f7 ,duration of awards ,each grant and subgrant awarded under this section shall be for a period of not more than #d years4 ,a career pathway partnership applicant may apply for subsequent subgrants after the completion of a subgrant period4 7g7 ,evaluation and administration ,the ,secretary shall reserve-- 7#a7 not less than #a percent and not more than #c percent of the funds made available under subsection 7h7 for each fiscal year to-- 7,a7 conduct a rigorous1 independent evaluation of the activities funded under this section2 and 7,b7 disseminate and promote the utilization of evidence-based practices related to career pathway programs for postsecondary students2 and 7#b7 not more than #c percent of the funds made available under subsection 7h7 for each fiscal year for administrative costs associated in carrying out this section4 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities described in this section1 such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year #bjbd and for each subsequent fiscal year thereafter4 4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents in section #a7;b7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #agb1 the following3 ,sec4 #agc4 ,career pathways grant program4 4