HR 1132
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants to community colleges for high-quality workforce development programs.
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Bill overview
This bill aims to strengthen workforce development programs at community colleges by directing the Secretary of Labor to award grants. The grants will support high-quality programs that align with in-demand industry sectors and provide nationally portable credentials. It establishes a ‘Strengthening Community Colleges Workforce Development Grants Program’ with specific requirements for partnerships with employers, program design, and data reporting. The bill also includes provisions for evaluating the effectiveness of these programs and ensuring they meet performance levels.
Key provisions
- Creates a new grant program for community colleges to develop high-quality workforce development programs.
- Authorizes $65 million annually from 2026 to 2031 for these grants.
- Requires grant recipients to establish partnerships with employers in in-demand industries.
- Mandates the inclusion of work-based learning opportunities and career services in program design.
- Requires grantees to make program information publicly accessible and transparent.
- Establishes performance levels and evaluation requirements for grant recipients.
- Prioritizes institutions serving low-income individuals and incumbent workers.
- Includes provisions for competency-based education and credit for prior learning.
Who is affected
- Community Colleges
- Students and Job Seekers
- Employers
- Workforce Development System
- The Department of Labor
Notable changes
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Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 1132
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants to community colleges for high-quality workforce development programs.
Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
The purposes of this section are—
to establish, improve, or expand high-quality workforce development programs at community colleges; and
to expand opportunities for individuals to obtain recognized postsecondary credentials that are nationally or regionally portable and stackable for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations.
From the amounts appropriated to carry out this section under paragraph (3) and not reserved under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall, on a competitive basis, make grants to eligible institutions to carry out the activities described in subsection (e).
Of the amounts appropriated to carry out this section under paragraph (3), the Secretary may reserve not more than two percent for the administration of grants awarded under this section, including—
providing technical assistance and targeted outreach to support eligible institutions serving a high number or high percentage of low-income individuals or individuals with barriers to employment, and rural-serving eligible institutions, to provide guidance and assistance in the process of applying for grants under this section; and
evaluating and reporting on the performance and impact of programs funded under this section in accordance with subsections (f) through (h).
Each grant under this section shall be awarded for an initial period of not more than 4 years.
To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible institution shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require.
An application submitted by an eligible institution under paragraph (1) shall include a description of each the following:
The extent to which the eligible institution has demonstrated success building partnerships with employers in in-demand industry sectors or occupations to provide students with the skills needed for occupations in such industries and an explanation of the results of any such partnerships.
The methods and strategies the eligible institution will use to engage with employers in in-demand industry sectors or occupations, including any arrangements to place individuals who complete the workforce development programs supported by the grant into employment with such employers.
The proposed eligible institution and industry partnership that the eligible institution will establish or maintain to comply with subsection (e)(1), including—
the roles and responsibilities of each employer, organization, agency, or institution of higher education that the eligible institution will partner with to carry out the activities under this section; and
the needs that will be addressed by such eligible institution and industry partnership.
One or more industries that such partnership will target and real-time labor market data demonstrating that those industries are aligned with employer demand in the geographic area to be served by the eligible institution.
The extent to which the eligible institution can—
leverage additional resources to support the programs to be funded with the grant, which shall include written commitments of any leveraged or matching funds for the proposed programs; and
demonstrate the future sustainability of each such program.
The steps the institution will take to ensure the high quality of each program to be funded with the grant, including the career pathways within such programs.
The population and geographic area to be served by the eligible institution, including the number of individuals the eligible institution intends to serve during the grant period.
The workforce development programs to be supported by the grant.
The recognized postsecondary credentials that are expected to be earned by participants in such workforce development programs and the related high-wage, high skill, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations for which such programs will prepare participants.
The evidence upon which the education and skills development strategies to be used in such workforce development programs are based and an explanation of how such evidence influenced the design of the programs to improve education and employment outcomes.
How activities of the eligible institution are expected to align with the workforce strategies identified in—
any State plan or local plan submitted under this Act by the State, outlying area, or locality in which the eligible institution is expected to operate;
any State plan submitted under section 122 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2342) by such State or outlying area; and
any economic development plan of the chief executive of such State or outlying area.
The goals of the eligible institution with respect to—
capacity building (as described in subsection (f)(1)(B)); and
the expected performance of individuals participating in the programs to be offered by the eligible institution, including with respect to any performance indicators applicable under section 116 or subsection (f) of this section.
The Secretary may not disqualify an eligible institution from receiving a grant under this section solely because such institution lacks previous experience in building partnerships, as described in paragraph (2)(A).
In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible institutions that—
will use the grant to serve—
individuals with barriers to employment; or
incumbent workers who need to gain or improve foundational skills to enhance their employability;
use competency-based assessments to award academic credit for prior learning for programs supported by the grant, such as any competency-based assessment developed and identified by the State in which the eligible institution is located, in coordination with industry organizations, employers (including small and mid-sized employers), industry or sector partnerships, training providers, local boards, and institutions of higher education; and
have, or will seek to have, the career education programs supported by the grant included on the list of eligible providers of training services under section 122 for the State in which the eligible institution is located.
For the purpose of carrying out the activities specified in paragraphs (2) and (3), an eligible institution that receives a grant under this section shall establish a partnership (or continue an existing partnership) with one or more employers in an in-demand industry sector or occupation (in this section referred to as an eligible institution and industry partnership
) and shall maintain such partnership for the duration of the grant period. The eligible institution shall ensure that the partnership—
targets one or more specific high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industries;
includes collaboration with the workforce development system;
serves adult and dislocated workers, incumbent workers, and new entrants to the workforce;
uses an evidence-based program design that is appropriate for the activities carried out by the partnership;
incorporates work-based learning opportunities, as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302); and
incorporates, to the extent appropriate, virtual service delivery to facilitate technology-enabled learning.
establish, improve, or expand high quality, evidence-based workforce development programs, career pathway programs, or work-based learning programs (including apprenticeship programs or preapprenticeships);
provide career services to individuals participating in the programs funded with the grant to facilitate retention and program completion, which may include—
career navigation, coaching, mentorship, and case management services, including providing information and outreach to individuals with barriers to employment to encourage such individuals to participate in programs funded with the grant; and
providing access to course materials, technological devices, required equipment, and other supports necessary for participation in and successful completion of such programs; and
make available, in a format that is open, searchable, and easily comparable, information on—
curricula and recognized postsecondary credentials offered through programs funded with the grant, including any curricula or credentials created or further developed using such grant, which for each recognized postsecondary credential, shall include—
the issuing entity of such credential;
any third-party endorsements of such credential;
the occupations for which the credential prepares individuals;
the skills and competencies necessary to achieve to earn such credential;
the level of mastery of such skills and competencies (including how mastery is assessed); and
any transfer value or stackability of the credential;
any skills or competencies developed by individuals who participate in such programs beyond the skills and competencies identified as part of the recognized postsecondary credential awarded; and
related employment and earnings outcomes on the primary indicators of performance described in subclauses (I) through (III) of section 116(b)(2)(A)(i), except that subclause (II) of such section shall be applied by—
substituting second
for fourth
; and
as if and remain in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit from the program
were inserted after the program
.
Establish, improve, 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;
corequisite remediation programs that enable a student to receive remedial education services while enrolled in a postsecondary course rather than requiring the student to receive remedial education before enrolling in a such a course;
dual or concurrent enrollment programs;
competency-based education and assessment; or
policies and processes to award academic credit for prior learning or for the programs described in paragraph (2)(A).
Establish or implement plans for providers of the programs described in paragraph (2)(A) to meet the criteria and carry out the procedures necessary to be included on the eligible training services provider list described in section 122(d).
Purchase, lease, or refurbish specialized equipment as necessary to carry out such programs, provided that not more than 15 percent of the funds awarded to the eligible institution under this section may be used for activities described in this subparagraph.
An eligible institution may use not more than 7 percent of the funds awarded under this section for administrative costs, including costs related to collecting information, analysis, and coordination for purposes of subsection (f).
Each of the primary indicators of performance for adults described in section 116(b), which shall be applied for all individuals who participated in a program that received funding from a grant under this section.
The extent to which the eligible institution built capacity by—
increasing the breadth and depth of employer engagement and investment in workforce development programs in the in-demand industry sectors and occupations targeted by the eligible institution and industry partnership established or maintained by the eligible institution under subsection (e)(1);
designing or implementing new and accelerated instructional techniques or technologies, including the use of advanced online and technology-enabled learning (such as immersive technology); and
increasing program and policy alignment across systems and decreasing duplicative services or service gaps.
With respect to individuals who participated in a workforce development program funded with the grant—
the percentage of participants who successfully completed the program; and
of the participants who were incumbent workers at the time of enrollment in the program, the percentage who advanced into higher level positions during or after completing the program.
the expected performance levels of each eligible institution with respect to the goals described by the eligible institution pursuant to subsection (d)(2)(L); and
received the notification; and
agrees to be evaluated in accordance with the performance levels determined by the Secretary.
developed new, or expanded existing, successful industry sector strategies, including the extent to which such eligible institutions deepened employer engagement and developed workforce development programs that met industry skill needs;
created, expanded, or enhanced career pathways, including the extent to which the eligible institutions developed or improved competency-based education and assessment, credit for prior learning, modularized and self-paced curricula, integrated education and workforce development, dual enrollment in secondary and postsecondary career pathways, stacked and latticed credentials, and online and distance learning;
created alignment between eligible institutions and the workforce development system;
assisted individuals with finding, retaining, or advancing in employment;
assisted individuals with earning recognized postsecondary credentials; and
provided equal access to various demographic groups, including people of different geographic locations, ages, races, national origins, and sexes.
The evaluation under this subsection shall—
be designed by the Secretary (acting through the Chief Evaluation Officer) in conjunction with the eligible institutions being evaluated;
include analysis of program participant feedback and outcome and process measures; and
use designs that employ the most rigorous analytical and statistical methods that are reasonably feasible, such as the use of control groups.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974) (20 U.S.C. 1232g).
The Secretary (acting through the Chief Evaluation Officer) shall—
in accordance with the timeline determined to be appropriate by the Chief Evaluation Officer, publish an interim report on the preliminary results of the evaluation conducted under this subsection;
not later than 60 days after the date on which the evaluation is completed under this subsection, submit to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on such evaluation; and
not later than 90 days after such completion date, publish and make the results of such evaluation available on a publicly accessible website of the Department of Labor.
The Secretary shall make available on a publicly accessible website of the Department of Labor, in transparent, linked, open, and interoperable data formats, the following information:
The number of individuals enrolled in workforce development programs funded with a grant under this section.
In this section:
The term community college means—
a public institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), at which—
the highest degree awarded is an associate degree; or
an associate degree is the most frequently awarded degree;
a branch campus of a 4-year public institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), if, at such branch campus—
the highest degree awarded is an associate degree; or
an associate degree is the most frequently awarded degree;
a 2-year Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316(b)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)(3))); or
a degree-granting Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316(b)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)(3))) at which—
the highest degree awarded is an associate degree; or
an associate degree is the most frequently awarded degree.
The term eligible institution means—
a community college;
a postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(c))); or
a consortium of such colleges or institutions.
Funds made available under this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local public funds made available for carrying out the activities described in this section.