Youth Access to American Jobs Act of 2017

To establish a pilot program to promote public-private partnerships among apprenticeships or other job training programs, local educational agencies, and community colleges, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Youth Access to American Jobs Act of 2017 2. 2–2–2 Pilot Program (a) In general From the amounts appropriated to carry out this Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall award grants to 10 eligible entities to carry a program described in subsection (c) for eligible students. (b) Application requirements An eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary as such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (c) Uses of funds An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use such grant to carry out a program under which each eligible student participating in the program— (1) during grades 11 and 12 at a high school served by the local educational agency in the eligible entity, enrolls in and completes STEM and STEM-focused career and technical education courses, and courses that prepare such student for community college; (2) upon graduating from the high school, enrolls in a course of study related to a high-growth skills industry, an in-demand industry or occupation, the manufacturing field, or other vocational or career and technical education field at a community college in the eligible entity; and (3) upon receiving an associate’s degree from the community college, enrolls and participates, for a 2-year period, in— (A) the State apprenticeship program of the eligible entity; or (B) the joint-labor management training program of the eligible entity. (d) Eligible students To be eligible to participate in a program described in subsection (c), a student shall, prior to participating in the program, demonstrate academic ability and a commitment to pursue a career in a high-growth skills industry, an in-demand industry or occupation, the manufacturing field, or other vocational or career and technical education field. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Career and technical education The term career and technical education 20 U.S.C. 2302 (2) Community college The term community college junior or community college 20 U.S.C. 1058(f) (3) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) a local educational agency; (B) a community college; and (C) a State apprenticeship program or a joint-labor management training program. (4) ESEA terms The terms local educational agency high school State 20 U.S.C. 7801 (5) In-demand industry sector or occupation The term in-demand industry sector or occupation 29 U.S.C. 3102 (6) Secretary The term Secretary (7) State apprenticeship program The term State apprenticeship program (8) STEM The term STEM (A) science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and (B) other career and technical education subjects that build on the subjects described in subparagraph (A).

Summary: Youth Access to American Jobs Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Education to award grants to 10 eligible entities (partnerships among a local educational agency (LEA), a community college, and a state apprentice program or a joint-labor management training program) to carry out a program for students to: enroll in and complete science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, STEM-focused career and technical education courses, and other courses during grades 11 and 12 at a high school served by the LEA that prepares them for community college; enroll in a course of study related to a high-growth skills industry, an in-demand industry or occupation, the manufacturing field, or other vocational or career and technical education field at a community college upon graduating from such high school; and enroll, for a two-year period, in the eligible entity's state apprenticeship program or the joint-labor management training program upon receiving an associate's degree from such community college.