Sec. 178. Youth apprenticeship readiness grant program

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Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq. ) is further amended by inserting after section 172, as added by the preceding section, the following: The purposes of this section are— to increase earnings and employment for in-school youth and out-of-school youth, ages 16 through 24, through enrollment in and completion of evidence-based pre-apprenticeship programs and apprenticeship programs that serve youth; to engage educational entities, organizations carrying out programs that serve out-of-school youth, local educational agencies, State boards, local boards, employers, workforce partners (including one-stop partners), and other apprenticeship intermediaries, to establish innovative models for pre-apprenticeship programs and apprenticeship programs that serve youth, including coordinating with programs that offer supportive services that can enable participation in and completion of the program; and to promote alignment between education and workforce development systems (such as through public-private partnerships) to enable in-school youth and out-of-school youth to participate in postsecondary education and career pathways, including apprenticeships, that result in careers.

From the amounts made available to carry out this section under section 414(c) of the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3224a ) and not reserved under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall, on a competitive basis, make grants to eligible entities for projects to develop new or expand existing pre-apprenticeship programs and apprenticeships that serve youth. Of the amounts made available to carry out this section, the Secretary may reserve not more than 5 percent for the administration of grants made under this section, including— not more than 3 percent for the provision of technical assistance to eligible entities during the application period or the implementation phase of such grant; and not more than 2 percent for evaluations of employment and earnings outcomes described in clauses (vi), (vii), and

(viii)of subsection (e)(2)(B), identifying best practices, and facilitating the sharing of best practices among eligible entities by carrying out the identification and dissemination described in subsection (f)(2). The Secretary shall make such a grant for a period of not more than 4 years and may extend the grant for a period of not more than 2 additional years if the grant recipient is making progress in achieving the objectives of the project’s identified programs. In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that— serve an area with significant workforce shortages in the industry sector or occupation for which the eligible entity proposes to establish an identified program; propose to expand or have a demonstrated track record of expanding employment opportunities and career pathways for individuals with a barrier to employment; propose to primarily serve a population that is located in a rural or urban community and has an area median household income of not more than 150 percent of the poverty line; or include within the eligible entity a high-need local educational agency or a high-need educational service agency. In order to receive a grant from the Secretary under this section, an eligible entity shall provide a non-Federal contribution, which may be provided in cash or in-kind, for the costs of the project in an amount that is not less than 25 percent of the total amount of funds awarded to the entity for such period. An eligible entity 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 require and shall include the following: A description of the eligible entity’s proposed project, to be supported by such grant, including a provision identifying whether such project will develop or expand 1 or more pre-apprenticeship programs or 1 or more apprenticeship programs that serve youth. Except in the case of an identified program by an eligible entity described in subsection (i)(5)(A)(i) that is an apprenticeship program that serves youth and requires each enrolled youth apprentice to have a regular high school diploma (or recognized equivalent) as a condition of enrollment, an assurance that each identified program will be designed to enable— in-school youth to receive a regular high school diploma (in partnership with the local educational agency that serves such youth) and receive a recognized postsecondary credential (other than such a credential that is a baccalaureate degree) upon completion of the program; or out-of-school youth to receive a high school diploma or recognized equivalent and receive a recognized postsecondary credential (other than such a credential that is a baccalaureate degree) upon completion of the program. A description of the eligible entity and a description of how such eligible entity will— engage with employers to develop or expand, and sustain, each identified program; and combine academic, career and technical education, or related classroom instruction with on-the-job training, allowing youth to develop industry-specific or occupation-specific workplace competencies and skills. A description of the need for and design of the project, including— a description of the specific youth population to be served by the project, including— the subgroups of participants in the population and skill levels of such participants, and whether such participants are in-school youth or out-of-school youth; how the project will increase employment opportunities for youth who are individuals with a barrier to employment and youth from different subgroups of participants; and how the eligible entity will ensure that a wide range of youth, including youth who are individuals with a barrier to employment and youth from different subgroups of participants, are able to participate in each identified program; a description of the industry sector or occupation targeted through the eligible entity’s proposed project, the projected demand for the project in the area served by the eligible entity, and a citation of the data source for the projected demand; a description of the on-the-job training portion of the project, including a list of the partners responsible for providing the on-the-job training, and how such training will be designed flexibly to meet the needs and schedule of in-school youth and out-of-school youth; a description of the related classroom instruction portion of the project, including— how coursework for that instruction will be integrated into each identified program and developed in conjunction with and provided by education and training providers that are or are within the eligible entity, the specific partners that will provide the related classroom instruction, and (as applicable) how the program may be aligned with the programs of early college high schools or dual or concurrent enrollment programs to support youth pre-apprentices or apprentices involved in earning postsecondary credit; with respect to an identified project by an eligible entity described in subsection (i)(5)(A)(ii) that is designed to serve in-school youth, a description of how the eligible entity, through the project, will partner with the local educational agency that serves such youth to align challenging State academic standards and occupational skill standards to enable such youth to obtain a regular high school diploma while served by the program; and an explanation of how the project will combine academic, career and technical education, or related classroom instruction with on-the-job training; a description of the proposed supportive services strategy for the youth pre-apprentices or apprentices involved, how the project will partner with or refer youth pre-apprentices or apprentices to entities in the area served by the eligible entity that provide supportive services, how such supportive services will promote retention in and completion of the identified program involved, and the projected Federal, State, and local costs of such supportive services; if the eligible entity proposes to operate an apprenticeship program that serves youth— the youth apprenticeship agreement the eligible entity intends to use; a description of how such eligible entity will incorporate into the apprenticeship program recognized postsecondary credentials that enable youth apprentices to articulate to employment or higher level degree or other credential programs for multiple pathways, including enrollment in postsecondary education and employment; and if the eligible entity proposes to develop a new apprenticeship program that serves youth, a description of how the lead applicant and partners will register such new program with the Office of Apprenticeship or State apprenticeship agency and ensure the employer or sponsor is in compliance with the standards and requirements of a registered apprenticeship under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the National Apprenticeship Act ; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq. ), and that youth apprentices will earn a recognized postsecondary credential; and if the eligible entity proposes to operate a pre-apprenticeship program— a description of how the eligible entity, through the program, will connect participants to and prepare participants for an apprenticeship program; and an explanation of how the eligible entity, in carrying out the project involved, will work with alternative and non-traditional schools, institutions of higher education, and out-of-school youth programs. A description of how the eligible entity will promote alignment between local or State education and workforce development systems by supporting policies or practices that facilitate transitions from secondary school (including alternative and nontraditional schools) and pre-apprenticeship programs to apprenticeship programs and postsecondary education. A description of expected outcomes and outputs from the project that includes— an attestation that the eligible entity will report to the Secretary, in a timely and complete manner, the information required under subsection (e); and estimated levels of performance over each year of the grant period for each of the indicators described in subparagraphs

(B)and

(C)of subsection (e)(2). A description of the roles and responsibilities of each entity involved in the project, including any such entity that is a State or local government entity, qualified intermediary, service provider, independent evaluator, or other stakeholder. An attestation that the eligible entity has, or will attempt to develop, a memorandum of understanding with any relevant State workforce agency to facilitate matches to wage record data for youth pre-apprentices or apprentices to obtain the necessary information to fulfill the requirements of subsection (e)(2). The total intended budget for the project, including a description of any additional resources that may supplement the amount awarded under this section, including any funds the eligible entity intends to use to fulfill the matching funds requirement described under subsection (b)(5), and a description of the eligible entity’s plan to sustain the project funded through the grant beyond the conclusion of the grant period. For any program offering a recognized postsecondary credential, a description of how the program leads to the credential. An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to carry out the project proposed under subsection

(c)for purposes of carrying out 1 or more of the following activities: Develop or expand a pre-apprenticeship program. Develop or expand an apprenticeship program that serves youth, including registering such a program and its youth apprentices through the Office of Apprenticeship or an applicable State apprenticeship agency. An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use the grant funds, for each identified program, to— recruit youth to and enroll youth in an identified program, including conducting outreach to individuals with a barrier to employment and individuals preparing for nontraditional employment (when the identified program is in such field); conduct participant assessments to determine skill levels; support the provision of on-the-job training for participants in accordance with subsection (c)(3)(C), including by developing or modifying training activities to meet the needs of participants, as applicable; support the provision of related classroom instruction by education and training providers for participants in accordance with subsection (c)(3)(D), including— the development of courses at the secondary level— that are aligned with requirements to obtain a regular high school diploma and integrated into the identified program; and that may be aligned with the requirements of early college high schools or dual or concurrent enrollment programs to support youth pre-apprentices or youth apprentices involved in earning postsecondary credit; if the identified program is designed to serve in-school youth, the alignment of challenging State academic standards and occupational skill standards in secondary education; payment of participant tuition or other educational fees for projects; and the provision of instructional materials, equipment, and educational technology for such instruction; provide supportive services such as transportation, child care, dependent care, housing, and needs-related payments to enable youth to participate in and complete the education and training activities of the identified program; provide professional development opportunities for secondary and postsecondary educators, and employers and mentors in the project, to prepare the educators, employers, and mentors to effectively support youth participating in the identified program; increase awareness among parents, educators, students (especially individuals with a barrier to employment, individuals from underserved populations, and individuals from nontraditional apprenticeship populations), and employers or apprenticeship sponsors in the targeted service area about the benefits of youth participating in a pre-apprenticeship program or an apprenticeship program that serves youth; promote innovation, inclusion in the identified program, and alignment of the program with programs authorized under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq. ); and develop and integrate data collection systems, including within a statewide longitudinal data system, to track educational and employment outcomes of participants in the identified program. An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use, as provided in paragraph (2)(E), not more than 15 percent of grant funds awarded under this section to provide supportive services in accordance with that paragraph. An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall, in accordance with the indicators for participant outcomes described in paragraph (2)(B) and for program outputs described in paragraph (2)(C), identify targeted levels of performance for such indicators, which shall, at minimum, be equal to or greater than the estimated levels of performance identified by the eligible entity in the entity’s application under subsection (c)(5). Not later than 2 months after the identification described in subparagraph (A), the eligible entity shall reach an agreement with the Secretary on levels of performance for each indicator described in subparagraphs

(B)and

(C)of paragraph (2). Not later than 2 years after receipt of a grant under this section and annually thereafter, the eligible entity shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a report evaluating the performance and impact of the project funded through the grant with respect to participant outcome and program output indicators described in subparagraphs

(B)and (C), disaggregated by the subgroups of participants subject to paragraph (3). Consistent with subparagraph (A), an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall report to the Secretary data, for each identified program carried out by the eligible entity, on participant outcome indicators for each such program consisting of the— total participants served and enrolled in any identified program, disaggregated by youth pre-apprentices and apprentices; retention rate during each fiscal year of participants enrolled in any identified program in the project that have not completed such program, compared to that retention rate for the previous fiscal year, disaggregated by youth pre-apprentices and apprentices; total participants who attain a regular high school diploma or recognized equivalent, disaggregated by youth pre-apprentices and apprentices; total participants who complete such an identified program; total participants who receive an associate or baccalaureate degree or other type of recognized postsecondary credential during or upon completion of the identified program; median hourly wage of youth pre-apprentices (as applicable) or youth apprentices on the date of exit from the identified program and during the second and fourth quarters after exit from the program, and a comparison of such wage to the local median hourly wage for the industry sector or occupation for which the identified program is targeted; total participants in employment during the second and fourth quarter after exit from the program; and total participants who complete a pre-apprenticeship program, disaggregated by the type of education, skills development, and apprenticeship opportunities or employment pursued by such youth pre-apprentices after such completion. Consistent with subparagraph (A), an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall report to the Secretary data on program output indicators consisting of the— total number of all identified programs developed or expanded during the period covered by the report, disaggregated by pre-apprenticeship programs and apprenticeship programs that serve youth; total number of apprenticeships that serve youth, if applicable, that were developed or expanded during that period, including an apprenticeship program expanded as described in subsection (d)(1) to new industry sectors, occupations, or service areas; total number of employers who became engaged in an identified program during that period, as a direct result of a grant under this section; and for each year of the period covered by the report, the total share of the grant received under this section spent by the eligible entity on the uses of funds described under subparagraphs

(C)and

(D)of subsection (d)(2). The disaggregation of data under paragraph

(2)shall not be required in a case where the number of participants in the subgroup of participants is insufficient to yield statistically reliable information or the results would reveal personally identifiable information about an individual participant. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026 and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall evaluate whether each eligible entity involved met the agreed levels of performance described in paragraph (1)(B) for each of the eligible entity’s identified programs. Not later than 30 days after each cohort of participants completes an eligible entity’s identified program, the Secretary shall evaluate whether the eligible entity met the agreed levels of performance for that identified program. If the Secretary determines under subparagraph

(A)that an eligible entity fails to meet 1 or more of the agreed levels of performance for an identified program, the Secretary shall provide technical assistance, including assistance in the development of a performance improvement plan. If the Secretary determines, 1 year after the eligible entity receives that technical assistance and implements that plan, that the eligible entity fails to meet the agreed levels of performance described in paragraph (1)(B) for an identified program, the Secretary shall not extend a grant for that eligible entity for that program under subsection (b). Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of the A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026 and annually thereafter, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, using data reported by eligible entities pursuant to the requirements under subsection (e)— shall publish the data; shall prepare and make publicly available a report containing the data on the indicators described in subparagraphs

(B)and

(C)of subsection (e)(2); and shall submit the report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026 , the Secretary shall use funds reserved under subsection (b)(2)(C) to identify and disseminate, through a website developed by the Department of Labor, best practices in developing and expanding pre-apprenticeship opportunities or apprenticeship opportunities for youth used by— eligible entities receiving a grant under this section; and States and local areas adopting innovative and effective practices to develop and expand such opportunities. Nothing in a youth apprenticeship agreement under this section shall be construed to invalidate an applicable provision in a collective bargaining agreement, between employers and employees, that establishes higher standards for programs in the national apprenticeship system. An eligible entity carrying out a project under this section shall ensure compliance with the provisions on child labor under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 201 et seq. ) and State law (including Federal and State regulations under those laws), and with State workers’ compensation laws. The eligible entity shall only serve in-school youth, and out-of-school youth, who are not younger than the minimum legal age to be employed as apprentices under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 201 et seq. ) and any applicable State laws. An eligible entity that prepares or intends to prepare individuals for a covered occupation may submit an application under subsection

(c)to develop or expand a pre-apprenticeship program that serves a youth who is younger than the age of 18 only if the program is limited to classroom instruction in the covered occupation. A pre-apprenticeship program supported using funds awarded under this section that serves or intends to serve a youth who is younger than the age of 18 and prepares such youth for a covered occupation may only provide classroom instruction to such youth in such program and may not provide on-the-job training in a covered occupation to such youth in such program. An apprenticeship program that serves youth that is supported using funds awarded under this section and that prepares a youth apprentice for a covered occupation may not enroll in such program a youth who is younger than the age of 18. An apprenticeship program supported using funds awarded under this section may serve youth who are not younger than age 16 or older than age 17, provided that such program is not preparing such youth for a covered occupation. In this section: The term apprenticeship program that serves youth means a registered apprenticeship program registered by the Office of Apprenticeship or a State apprenticeship agency under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the National Apprenticeship Act ; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq. ), that is designed for youth not younger than age 16 or older than age 24. The term covered occupation means an occupation in— manufacturing; construction; mining; trenching or excavation; logging or an occupation related to timber; work involving a saw mill; work involving the operation of heavy machinery; work involving exposure to radioactive substances or to ionizing radiations; meat processing; demolition; explosives; or work in any industry sector or occupation that is prohibited to a youth who is younger than the age of 18 under the laws or policies of the State where the work occurs. The terms Tribally controlled college or university and Tribally controlled postsecondary career and technical institution have the meanings given the terms tribally controlled college or university and tribally controlled postsecondary career and technical institution , respectively, in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2302 ). The term education and training provider means— an area career and technical education school; an early college high school; a provider of a dual or concurrent enrollment program; a community-based organization that offers job training; a high school operated by a local educational agency; a local educational agency, educational service agency, or State educational agency; a Tribal education agency (meaning such an agency within the meaning of section 3(20)(E) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2302(20)(E) )), Tribally controlled college or university, or Tribally controlled postsecondary career and technical institution; the Bureau of Indian Education; an institution of higher education; a State entity that coordinates higher education, such as a community college system office, a single State educational board, or State higher education agency (as defined in section 103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1003 )); a historically Black college or university, meaning a part B institution as defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1061 ); a minority-serving institution; a local agency administering plans under title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 720 et seq. ), other than section 112 or part C of that title ( 29 U.S.C. 732 , 741); a related integrated instruction provider, including a qualified intermediary acting as a related integrated instruction provider as approved by the Office of Apprenticeship or a State apprenticeship agency recognized by the Secretary; a consortium of entities described in any of subparagraphs

(A)through (N); or as used with respect to an eligible entity described in paragraph (5)(A)(i), the joint labor-management organization that is such eligible entity. The term eligible entity means— a joint labor-management organization; or a partnership that— shall include as the lead applicant 1 entity that is— an education and training provider; a workforce development system entity; a qualified intermediary; a State agency of the State in which the partnership is located; or a joint labor-management organization; shall include as a partner— at least 1 employer or an industry or trade association that represents at least 2 employers; an education and training provider; the State apprenticeship agency; a local board or the State board; a local educational agency, if the partnership is serving in-school youth; or a qualified intermediary; and may include as an additional partner— the State educational agency; an institution of higher education; an Indian Tribe; the State entity that coordinates higher education, such as a community college system office, a single State educational board, or State higher education agency (as defined in section 103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1003 )); a community-based organization that offers job training; or a joint labor-management organization. For purposes of this section, a reference to a lead applicant, partner, or partnership between a lead applicant and partners, with respect to an eligible entity described in subparagraph (A)(i), shall be deemed to be a reference to the eligible entity. The terms dual or concurrent enrollment program , early college high school , educational service agency , and high school have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 ). The term grant means a contract, cooperative agreement, or award. The term high-need educational service agency means an educational service agency that serves a significant number or percentage of high-need local educational agencies. The term high-need local educational agency has the meaning given the term in section 200 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1021 ). The term identified program means a pre-apprenticeship program, or youth program that serves youth, that is proposed to be carried out by an eligible entity in an application approved under subsection

(c)for a project. The term minority-serving institution means an institution defined in any of paragraphs

(1)through

(7)of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a) ). The term national apprenticeship system means the apprenticeship programs, apprenticeship programs that serve youth, and pre-apprenticeship programs that are approved by the Office of Apprenticeship or State apprenticeship agencies. The term pre-apprenticeship program means a program that— prepares youth to enroll in and complete an apprenticeship program; maintains a written partnership with an apprenticeship program; and in the case of a program with respect to a covered occupation, is provided only through classroom instruction for any youth pre-apprentice who is younger than the age of 18. The term qualified intermediary — means a nonprofit entity operating in a State or local area that demonstrates expertise and experience in serving participants, employers, and schools by— building, sustaining, measuring, and improving the quality and performance of apprenticeship programs that serve youth; assisting in the design, approval, registration, and implementation of apprenticeship programs that serve youth, including program development and meeting program requirements, including registration and reporting requirements; in collaboration with 1 or more State educational agencies, local educational agencies, or institutions of higher education included in the eligible entity involved, providing collaborative professional development activities such as training for workplace supervisors, mentors, counselors, and teachers, instructors, and other educators; supporting the recruitment for, retention in, and completion of apprenticeship programs that serve youth with respect to potential or enrolled youth apprentices, including youth apprentices who are from low-income backgrounds or members of nontraditional apprenticeship populations; developing and providing supportive services including by partnering with organizations to provide access to or referrals for supportive services, financial literacy services, and other support based upon needs of potential or enrolled youth apprentices; or serving as a program sponsor; and may consist of— a joint labor-management organization; a community-based organization; or an industry association. The term State means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and an outlying area. The term State agency means a State educational agency, State workforce agency, or State apprenticeship agency. The term State apprenticeship agency means an agency of a State government that has been authorized by the Office of Apprenticeship to register and oversee apprenticeship programs and has the responsibility and accountability for apprenticeship programs within the State. The term subgroup of participants means— in-school youth; out-of-school youth; and each of the special populations, as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2302 ). The term workforce development system entity means an entity that is involved in administering a workforce development system established under this Act, which shall be a State board, a local board, or an Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, or Native Hawaiian organization, as defined in section 166(b). The term youth means an individual who is not younger than age 16 or older than age 24. The term youth , used with respect to an apprentice, means a youth who is participating in an apprenticeship program that serves youth. The term youth apprenticeship agreement means a written agreement under subsection (c)(3)(F) that is agreed to by each of the following: A youth. The youth’s parent or legal guardian, as applicable. One or more local educational agencies, if the eligible entity involved is serving in-school youth. The youth apprenticeship sponsor, which may be an employer. As applicable, a qualified intermediary for an apprenticeship program that serves youth. As applicable, one or more institutions of higher education. As applicable, one or more employers. The term youth , used with respect to a pre-apprentice, means a youth who is participating in a pre-apprenticeship program. .

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