Sec. 172. Community college and industry partnership grants

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In this section: The terms career and technical education , dual or concurrent enrollment program , and work-based learning have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2302 ). The term eligible entity — means an eligible institution or a consortium of such eligible institutions; and may include a multistate consortium of such eligible institutions. The term eligible institution means a public institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) ) at which the highest degree that is predominantly awarded to students is an associate degree, including a 2-year Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059c )).

The term in-demand industry sector or occupation has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3102 ). From amounts appropriated under subsection

(h)and not reserved under subsection (f), the Secretary of Labor, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education (acting through the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education) shall award, on a competitive basis, grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, in accordance with section 169(b)(5) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3224(b)(5) ), to eligible entities to assist such eligible entities in— establishing and scaling career training programs, including career and technical education programs, and industry and sector partnerships to inform such programs; and providing necessary student supports for participation in such programs. The total amount of funds awarded under this section to an eligible entity shall not exceed— in the case of an eligible entity that is an eligible institution, $2,500,000; and in the case of an eligible entity that is a consortium, $15,000,000. A grant, contract, or cooperative agreement awarded under this section shall be for a period of not more than 4 years, except that the Secretary of Labor may extend such a grant, contract, or agreement for an additional 2-year period. In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary of Labor shall ensure, to the extent practicable, the equitable distribution of grants, based on— geography (such as urban and rural distribution); and States and local areas significantly impacted by the COVID–19 national emergency. In awarding funds under this section, the Secretary of Labor shall give priority to eligible entities that will use such funds to serve individuals impacted by the COVID–19 national emergency, as demonstrated by providing an assurance in the application submitted under subsection

(d)that the eligible entity will use such funds to— serve such individuals who are— individuals with barriers to employment; veterans or spouses of members of the Armed Forces; Native Americans, Alaska Natives, or Native Hawaiians; or incumbent workers who are low-skilled and who need to increase their employability skills; serve such individuals from each major racial and ethnic group or gender with lower-than-average educational attainment in the State or employment in the in-demand industry sector or occupation that such award will support; or serve areas with high unemployment rates or high levels of poverty, including rural areas. An eligible entity seeking an award of funds under this section shall submit to the Secretary of Labor an application containing a grant proposal at such time and in such manner, and containing such information, as required by the Secretary, including a detailed description of the following: Each entity (and the roles and responsibilities of each entity) with which the eligible entity will partner to carry out activities under this section, which shall include, at a minimum— an industry or sector partnership (as defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3102 )) representing a high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sector or occupation; a State higher education agency (as defined in section 103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1003 )) or a State workforce agency; and to the extent practicable, one or more of each of the following: State or local workforce development systems. Economic development or other relevant State or local agencies. Community-based organizations. Institutions of higher education that primarily award 4-year degrees with which the eligible entity has developed or will develop articulation agreements for programs created or expanded using funds under this section. Providers of adult education. One or more labor organizations or joint labor-management partnerships. The programs that will be supported with such award, including a description of— each program that will be developed or expanded, and how the program will be responsive to the high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the geographic region served by the eligible entity under this section, including— how the eligible entity will collaborate with employers to ensure each such program will provide the skills and competencies necessary to meet future employment demand; and the quantitative data and evidence that demonstrates the extent to which each such program will meet the needs of employers in the geographic area served by the eligible entity under this section; the recognized postsecondary credentials to be awarded under each program described in subparagraph (A); how each such program will facilitate cooperation between representatives of workers and employers in the local areas to ensure a fair and engaging workplace that balances the priorities and well-being of workers with the needs of businesses; the extent to which each such program aligns with a statewide or regional workforce development strategy, including such strategies established under section 102(b)(1) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3112(b)(1) ); and how the eligible entity will ensure the quality of each such program, the career pathways within each such program, and the jobs in the industry sectors or occupations to which the program is aligned. The extent to which the eligible entity can leverage additional resources, and demonstration of the future sustainability of each such program. How each such program and the activities carried out with funds under this section will include evidence-based practices, including a description of such practices. The student populations that will be served by the eligible entity, including— an analysis of any barriers to employment or barriers to postsecondary education that such populations face, and an analysis of how the services to be provided by the eligible entity under this section will address such barriers; and how the eligible entity will support such populations to establish a work history, demonstrate success in the workplace, and develop the skills and competencies that lead to entry into and retention in unsubsidized employment. Assurances the eligible entity will participate in and comply with third-party evaluations described in subsection (f)(3). An eligible entity receiving a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section shall use funds made available under such grant, contract, or cooperative agreement to establish and scale career training programs, including career and technical education programs, and career pathways and supports for students participating in such programs. Not less than 15 percent of funds made available to an eligible entity under this section shall be used to carry out student support services, which may include the following: Supportive services, including childcare, transportation, mental health services, substance use disorder prevention and treatment, assistance in obtaining health insurance coverage, housing, and assistance in accessing the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children established by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786 ), and other benefits, as appropriate. Connecting students to State or Federal means-tested benefits programs, including the means-tested Federal benefits programs described in subparagraphs

(A)through

(F)of section 479(d)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087ss(d)(2) ). The provision of direct financial assistance to help students facing financial hardships that may impact enrollment in or completion of a program assisted with such funds. Navigation, coaching, mentorship, and case management services, including providing information and outreach to populations described in subsection

(c)to take part in a program supported with such funds. Providing access to necessary supplies, materials, or technological devices, and required equipment, and other supports necessary to participate in such programs. The funds awarded to an eligible entity under this section that remain after carrying out paragraph

(2)shall be used to— create, develop, or expand articulation agreements (as defined in section 486A(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1093a(a) ), credit transfer agreements, policies to award credit for prior learning, corequisite remediation, dual or concurrent enrollment programs, career pathways, and competency-based education; establish or expand industry or sector partnerships to develop or expand academic programs and curricula; establish or expand work-based learning opportunities, including apprenticeship programs or paid internships; establish or implement plans for programs supported with funds under this section to be included on the list of programs and eligible training providers described under section 122(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3152(d) ); award academic credit or provide for academic alignment toward credit pathways for programs assisted with such funds, including through industry-recognized credentials, competency-based education, or work-based learning; make available open, searchable, and comparable information on the recognized postsecondary credentials awarded under such programs, including the related skills or competencies, related employment, and earnings outcomes; or acquiring equipment necessary to support activities permitted under this section. Not more than 5 percent of the funds appropriated for a fiscal year may be used by the Secretary of Labor for— the administration of the program under this section, including providing technical assistance to eligible entities; targeted outreach to eligible institutions serving a high number or high percentage of low-income populations, and rural-serving eligible institutions, to provide guidance and assistance in the grant application process under this section; and a rigorous, third-party evaluation that uses experimental or quasi-experimental design or other research methodologies that allow for the strongest possible causal inferences to determine whether each eligible entity carrying out a program supported under this section has met the goals of such program as described in the application submitted by eligible entity, including through a national assessment of all such programs at the conclusion of each 4-year grant period. Each eligible entity receiving funds under this section shall prepare and submit a report to the Secretary of Labor annually that includes— a description of the programs supported with such funds, including activities carried out directly by the eligible entity and activities carried out by each partner of the eligible entity described in subsection (d)(1); data on the population served with the funds and labor market outcomes of populations served by the funds; a description of the resources leveraged by the eligible entity to support activities under this section; and the performance of each program supported with such funds with respect to the primary indicators of performance under section 116(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A)(i) ). Each eligible entity receiving funds under this section shall— participate in activities regarding the dissemination of related research, best practices, and technical assistance; and to the extent practicable, and as determined by the Secretary of Labor, make available to the public any materials created under the grant. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, to remain available through fiscal year 2024.

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