I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9621 
To award career pathways innovation grants to local educational agencies 
and consortia of local educational agencies, to provide technical assistance 
within the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education to administer 
the grants and support the local educational agencies with the prepara-
tion of grant applications and management of grant funds, to amend 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support community college and 
industry partnerships, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 
Ms. CRAIG (for herself and Mr. FINSTAD) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To award career pathways innovation grants to local edu-
cational agencies and consortia of local educational agen-
cies, to provide technical assistance within the Office 
of Career, Technical, and Adult Education to administer 
the grants and support the local educational agencies 
with the preparation of grant applications and manage-
ment of grant funds, to amend the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 to support community college and industry 
partnerships, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘21st Century Work-
force Partnerships Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ESEA DEFINITIONS.—The terms ‘‘elemen-
tary school’’, ‘‘high school’’, ‘‘local educational agen-
cy’’, ‘‘middle grades’’, and ‘‘secondary school’’ have 
the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 7801). 
(2) BUSINESS
OR
INDUSTRY
PARTNER.—The 
term ‘‘business or industry partner’’ means— 
(A) a business; 
(B) an industry or sector partnership, as 
defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innova-
tion and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102); 
(C) an association of multiple businesses 
or other employers in an in-demand industry 
sector or occupation, as defined in section 3 of 
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3102); 
(D) a community partner; 
(E) an intermediary organization; or 
(F) a labor management training partner-
ship. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(3) CAREER
PATHWAY.—The term ‘‘career 
pathway’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3102). 
(4) COMMUNITY
PARTNER.—The term ‘‘com-
munity partner’’ means a nonprofit organization or 
a State, local, or Tribal government entity that has 
expertise— 
(A) in the planning and delivery of edu-
cation, career training, and related programs; 
(B) in forging coordination and coopera-
tion between educators and other members of 
the community; 
(C) in training educators and other 
deliverers of educational services; 
(D) in development and implementation of 
data systems that measure the progress of stu-
dents, schools, and institutions of higher edu-
cation, or career pathways programs; or 
(E) in delivering an increase in earnings, 
family incomes, or family resources. 
(5) ELIGIBLE
AGENCY.—The term ‘‘eligible 
agency’’ means— 
(A) a local educational agency; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(B) a consortium of local educational agen-
cies or an agent operating on behalf of the con-
sortium; or 
(C) a school operated or funded by the Bu-
reau of Indian Education. 
(6) INDIAN.—The term ‘‘Indian’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self- 
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
U.S.C. 5304). 
(7) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(8) INTERMEDIARY ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘‘intermediary organization’’ means a nonprofit orga-
nization that has expertise in training, forging pub-
lic-private partnerships, systems development, capac-
ity-building, improving scalability, and evaluation. 
(9) LABOR MANAGEMENT TRAINING PARTNER-
SHIP.—The term ‘‘labor management training part-
nership’’ means an independent organization jointly 
controlled by employers and unions that supports 
workforce training and development. 
(10) NATIVE
HAWAIIAN.—The term ‘‘Native 
Hawaiian’’ has the meaning given the term in sec-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
tion 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517). 
(11) PROGRAM
OF
STUDY.—The term ‘‘pro-
gram of study’’ means a State approved career and 
technical education program of courses that articu-
lates between secondary and postsecondary school. 
(12) 
REGISTERED
APPRENTICESHIP
PRO-
GRAM.—The term ‘‘registered apprenticeship pro-
gram’’ means a program registered under the Act of 
August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the ‘‘National 
Apprenticeship Act’’; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.). 
(13) SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP.—The term ‘‘school 
partnership’’ means a partnership that— 
(A) shall include, at a minimum— 
(i) an eligible agency; and 
(ii) one or more business or industry 
partners; and 
(B) may also include one or more of the 
following partners: 
(i) A community partner. 
(ii) A labor management training 
partnership. 
(iii) An institution of higher edu-
cation. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(iv) A State board or local board (as 
such terms are defined in section 3 of the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3102)). 
(v) An apprenticeship college that— 
(I) is not eligible to receive funds 
under title IV of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 
et seq.); 
(II) is an institution that pro-
vides instruction related to a reg-
istered apprenticeship program or is a 
sponsor of a registered apprenticeship 
program; and 
(III) meets the requirements of 
subsection (a) or (b) of section 101 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1001). 
(vi) Any other entity that the Sec-
retary, after consultation with the Sec-
retary of Labor, considers appropriate. 
(14) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means the Secretary of Education. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
SEC. 3. SECONDARY SCHOOL TO CAREER PATHWAYS INNO-
VATION GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) CAREER PATHWAYS INNOVATION GRANT PRO-
GRAM ESTABLISHED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—From amounts made avail-
able to carry out this section, the Secretary, after 
consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall es-
tablish a career pathways innovation grant program, 
through which the Secretary shall award grants, on 
a competitive basis, to eligible agencies for the pur-
pose of addressing the specialized skill needs of busi-
ness and industry by carrying out programs of study 
or career pathways programs, featuring school part-
nerships, that support career pathways in high 
school or career exploration in the middle grades, 
leading to higher subsequent employment and job 
quality. 
(2) DURATION.—A grant awarded under this 
section— 
(A) shall be for a period of 3 years; and 
(B) may be renewed for one additional 2- 
year period, if the eligible agency demonstrates 
sufficient progress in achieving the goals of the 
initial grant. 
(b) APPLICATION.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible agency desiring a 
grant under this section shall submit to the Sec-
retary an application at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require. 
(2) CONTENTS; PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT.— 
The application submitted under paragraph (1) shall 
include— 
(A) an initial partnership agreement, en-
tered into by the eligible agency and all mem-
bers of the school partnership, that— 
(i) specifies the duties and responsibil-
ities of each partner; 
(ii) describes the commitment of re-
sources or materials to be provided by each 
partner toward the school partnership, en-
suring that the business or industry part-
ners in the school partnership provide an 
amount of resources, in cash or in-kind, to-
ward the activities supported under the 
grant that equals or exceeds the amount 
contributed by the eligible agency and the 
amount to be provided by the grant under 
this section; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(iii) describes how the overall goals of 
the school partnership align with any 
statewide, regional, or local workforce de-
velopment strategies in existence at the 
time of the application, including those es-
tablished under the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et 
seq.) or the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 
U.S.C. 2301 et seq.); 
(B) a description of how the eligible agency 
and members of the school partnership will col-
laborate to ensure the quality of the career 
pathways program offered under the grant, in-
cluding any program that leads to an industry- 
recognized credential or postsecondary credit 
leading to a degree or certification in a career 
pathway; 
(C) identification of the goals and meas-
ures used to define progress toward student 
outcomes, which may align with existing goals 
and measurement provided under the Elemen-
tary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), the Carl D. Perkins Ca-
reer and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
U.S.C. 2301 et seq.), and the Workforce Inno-
vation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et 
seq.); and 
(D) a strategic plan describing the role 
and activities of the eligible agency and all 
members of the school partnership in sup-
porting how the program will be sustained fol-
lowing the end of the grant. 
(3) METHODS THAT MEASURE JOB QUALITY.— 
The application submitted under paragraph (1) may 
include a description of how the school partnership 
will experiment with methods that measure job qual-
ity. 
(c) AWARD BASIS.—In awarding grants under this 
section, the Secretary shall— 
(1) ensure that, to the extent practicable based 
on the applications received under subsection (b)— 
(A) not less than 15 percent of the grant 
funds available to carry out this section are 
awarded to rural eligible agencies; and 
(B) not less than 5 percent of the grant 
funds available to carry out this section are 
awarded to eligible agencies that serve a sub-
stantial percentage of Indian or Native Hawai-
ian children; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(2) except to the extent necessary to comply 
with paragraph (1), give priority to— 
(A) any eligible agency whose school part-
nership includes an institution of higher edu-
cation offering postsecondary credits, or an en-
tity offering a registered apprenticeship pro-
gram that is articulated through secondary 
school programming counting towards the reg-
istered apprenticeship requirements, through 
the career pathways program under the grant; 
(B) any eligible agency whose career path-
ways program— 
(i) in a high school, offers concurrent 
enrollment opportunities for postsecondary 
credit; or 
(ii) leads to a recognized postsec-
ondary credential, as defined in section 3 
of the Workforce Innovation and Oppor-
tunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102); and 
(C) any eligible agency whose career path-
ways programs are focused on serving low-in-
come students (defined as eligible for benefits 
under the free and reduced price school lunch 
program established under the Richard B. Rus-
sell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
1751 et seq.)), out-of-school youth, students 
with disabilities, students experiencing home-
lessness, students who are English language 
learners, students who have low levels of lit-
eracy, or youth who are in or have aged out of 
the foster care system. 
(d) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) REQUIRED
USE
OF
FUNDS.—An eligible 
agency receiving grant funds under this section shall 
use grant funds to build or expand a career path-
ways program featuring school partnerships that 
supports career pathways in high school or career 
exploration in the middle grades. 
(2) PERMISSIVE USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible 
agency receiving grant funds under this section may 
use grant funds either during or outside of the 
school day or school year— 
(A) to hire a designated career pathways 
partnership coordinator to seek out and build 
relationships with business or industry partners 
to foster and manage the school partnerships 
supported under the grant; 
(B) for the costs of new equipment, infra-
structure (such as facilities, technology, and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
staffing), or transportation related to the career 
pathways program; 
(C) to recruit, or assist with State licen-
sure and credential requirements, career and 
technical education teachers, and others imple-
menting career pathways programs; 
(D) to train or support the professional de-
velopment of career and technical education 
teachers, and others implementing career path-
ways programs, including providing externship 
opportunities for educators to spend time in in-
dustry; 
(E) for youth apprenticeship, pre-appren-
ticeship training, internship, or experiential 
learning opportunities; 
(F) to provide, as part of the career path-
ways program, coursework that awards postsec-
ondary credit at no cost to high school students; 
(G) to support development of curricula 
that offer industry-recognized credentials; and 
(H) to experiment with methods that 
measure job quality. 
(e) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) MATCHING FUNDS.—An eligible agency that 
receives a grant under this section shall provide, to-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
ward the cost of the activities assisted under the 
grant and from non-Federal sources, an amount 
equal to or greater than the amount of the grant. 
Such matching amount may be in cash or in-kind 
(including leveraged staff time) and shall include 
support from business or industry partners of a 
school partnership in accordance with the partner-
ship agreement described in subsection (b)(2). 
(2) PARTICIPATION OF BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY 
PARTNER.—In any case where a business or indus-
try partner included in an initial partnership agree-
ment described in subsection (b)(2)(A) withdraws 
from a school partnership supported under a grant 
under this section, the eligible agency shall notify 
the Secretary immediately of the withdrawal and of 
the eligible agency’s plan for obtaining a comparable 
business or industry partner. 
(f) REPORTS.— 
(1) ELIGIBLE AGENCY REPORTS.— 
(A) INTERIM REPORTS.—By not later than 
18 months after receiving a grant under this 
section, the eligible agency shall submit a report 
to the Secretary demonstrating that the eligible 
agency is achieving sufficient progress toward 
the goals of the grant. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(B) FINAL REPORTS.—Each eligible agen-
cy receiving a grant under this section shall 
prepare and submit to the Secretary a final re-
port regarding the use of funds for the grant, 
including the outcomes of the activities assisted 
under the grant, by not later than 90 days after 
the end of the grant period. 
(2) SECRETARY REPORTS.—The Secretary shall 
prepare and submit to Congress, on an annual basis, 
a report regarding the grant program under this sec-
tion that includes a summary of the reports received 
under paragraph (1) during the preceding year and 
the outcomes resulting from the use of grant funds. 
SEC. 4. CAREER PATHWAYS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the 
Assistant Secretary of Career, Technical, and Adult Edu-
cation, shall— 
(1) administer and manage the career pathways 
innovation grants awarded under section 3; 
(2) provide technical assistance to eligible agen-
cies preparing grant applications under section 3(b); 
and 
(3) support career pathways partnership coordi-
nators, or other personnel of eligible agencies that 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
have received a grant under section 3, in order to 
ensure that— 
(A) the eligible agency participates in the 
required school partnership; and 
(B) the grant results in positive program 
outcomes. 
(b) DESIGNATED PERSONNEL FOR RURAL AND NA-
TIVE-SERVING APPLICATIONS.—The Secretary shall des-
ignate not less than 1 employee of the Office of Career, 
Technical, and Adult Education who will exclusively sup-
port rural and native-serving eligible agencies with the 
preparation of grant applications under section 3(b) and 
the development of school partnerships necessary to apply 
for and implement a grant under section 3. 
SEC. 5. COLLEGE TO CAREER PATHWAYS INNOVATION 
GRANT PROGRAM. 
Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1051 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘PART H—COLLEGE TO CAREER PATHWAYS 
INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM 
‘‘SEC. 399A. COLLEGE AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—Not later than the end 
of the first full fiscal year after the date of enactment of 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
the 21st Century Workforce Partnerships Act, from funds 
appropriated under section 399B, the Secretaries shall 
award competitive grants to eligible entities described in 
subsection (b) for the purpose of developing, offering, im-
proving, and providing educational or career training pro-
grams for students, including working students. The 
grants shall be awarded for periods of 3 years and may 
be renewed for 1 additional 2-year period, if the eligible 
entity demonstrates sufficient progress in achieving the 
goals of the initial grant period. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.— 
‘‘(1) PARTNERSHIPS WITH EMPLOYERS OR AN 
EMPLOYER OR INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP.— 
‘‘(A) GENERAL
DEFINITION.—For pur-
poses of this section, an ‘eligible entity’ means 
any of the entities described in subparagraph 
(B) (or a consortium of any of such entities) in 
partnership with an employer or an employer or 
industry partnership representing multiple em-
ployers. 
‘‘(B) DESCRIPTION OF ENTITIES.—The en-
tities described in this subparagraph are— 
‘‘(i) a community college; 
‘‘(ii) a 4-year public institution of 
higher education (as defined in section 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
101(a)) that offers 2-year degrees, and 
that will use funds provided under this sec-
tion for activities at the certificate and as-
sociate degree levels; 
‘‘(iii) a Tribal College or University 
(as defined in section 316(b)); 
‘‘(iv) an apprenticeship college (as de-
fined as an institution partnership that is 
registered under the Act of August 16, 
1937 (commonly known as the ‘National 
Apprenticeship Act’; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.) 
and is an institution of higher education 
(as defined in section 101(a))); or 
‘‘(v) a public or private nonprofit, 2- 
year institution of higher education (as de-
fined in section 102) in the Commonwealth 
of Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States 
Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Com-
monwealth of the Northern Mariana Is-
lands, the Republic of the Marshall Is-
lands, the Federated States of Micronesia, 
or the Republic of Palau. 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL PARTNERS.— 
‘‘(A) AUTHORIZATION
OF
ADDITIONAL 
PARTNERS.—In addition to partnering with em-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
ployers or an employer or industry partnership 
representing multiple employers as described in 
paragraph (1)(A), an entity described in para-
graph (1) may include in the partnership de-
scribed in paragraph (1) one or more of the or-
ganizations described in subparagraph (B). 
Each eligible entity that includes one or more 
such organizations shall collaborate with the 
State board or local board in the area served by 
the eligible entity. 
‘‘(B) ORGANIZATIONS.—The organizations 
described in this subparagraph are as follows: 
‘‘(i) A provider of adult education (as 
defined in section 203 of the Adult Edu-
cation and Family Literacy Act (29 U.S.C. 
3272)) or an institution of higher edu-
cation (as defined in section 101). 
‘‘(ii) A community-based organization. 
‘‘(iii) A joint labor-management part-
nership. 
‘‘(iv) A State board or local board. 
‘‘(v) A State higher education board. 
‘‘(vi) An elementary school or sec-
ondary school, as defined in section 8101 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965. 
‘‘(vii) Any other organization that the 
Secretaries consider appropriate. 
‘‘(c) EDUCATIONAL
OR CAREER TRAINING PRO-
GRAM.—For purposes of this section, the Governor of one 
of the States in which at least 1 of the entities described 
in subsection (b)(1)(B) of an eligible entity is located, 
shall establish criteria for an educational or career train-
ing program leading to a recognized postsecondary creden-
tial that leads to higher subsequent employment and job 
quality for which the eligible entity submits a grant pro-
posal under subsection (d). 
‘‘(d) APPLICATION.—An eligible entity seeking a 
grant under this section shall submit an application con-
taining a grant proposal, for an educational or career 
training program leading to a recognized postsecondary 
credential, to the Secretaries at such time and containing 
such information as the Secretaries determine is required, 
including— 
‘‘(1) a detailed description of— 
‘‘(A) the extent to which the educational or 
career training program described in the grant 
proposal aligns with— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(i) an overall strategic plan devel-
oped by the eligible entity; 
‘‘(ii) a statewide, regional, or local 
workforce development plan in existence at 
the time of the application, including a 
plan established under the Workforce Inno-
vation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
3101 et seq.) or the Carl D. Perkins Ca-
reer and Technical Education Act of 2006 
(20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.); 
‘‘(iii) in-demand industry sectors or 
occupations, as defined by the State or 
designated governing board, as appro-
priate, or postsecondary credit leading to a 
degree or certification in a career pathway; 
and 
‘‘(iv) goals and measurement used to 
define progress toward student outcomes 
in existence on the date of submission, 
which may align with the Carl D. Perkins 
Career and Technical Education Act of 
2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.), and the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.); 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(B) the extent to which the program will 
meet the needs of employers in the area for 
skilled workers in in-demand industry sectors or 
occupations; 
‘‘(C) the extent to which the program will 
meet the educational or career training needs of 
students in the area; 
‘‘(D) the specific educational or career 
training program and how the program meets 
the criteria established under subsection (e), in-
cluding the manner in which the grant will be 
used to develop, offer, improve, and provide the 
educational or career training program; 
‘‘(E) any previous experience of the eligible 
entity in providing educational or career train-
ing programs, the absence of which shall not 
automatically disqualify an eligible institution 
from receiving a grant under this section; 
‘‘(F) how the program leading to the cre-
dential meets the criteria described in sub-
section (c); and 
‘‘(G) how attaining the credential will help 
participants reach higher subsequent employ-
ment and job quality; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(2) a detailed plan on how the entity will en-
sure that the program will meet the performance 
measures described in subsection (g), and an assur-
ance that the entity will annually submit to the Sec-
retary of Education information on the performance 
of the program on the performance measures de-
scribed in subsection (g). 
‘‘(e) CRITERIA FOR AWARD.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Grants under this section 
shall be awarded based on criteria established by the 
Secretaries, that include the following: 
‘‘(A) A determination of the merits of the 
grant proposal submitted by the eligible entity 
involved to develop, offer, improve, and provide 
an educational or career training program to be 
made available to students. 
‘‘(B) An assessment of the likely employ-
ment opportunities available in the area to indi-
viduals who complete an educational or career 
training program that the eligible entity pro-
poses to develop, offer, improve, and provide. 
‘‘(C) An assessment of prior demand for 
training programs by individuals eligible for 
training and served by the eligible entity, as 
well as availability and capacity of existing (as 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:47 Sep 24, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9621.IH
H9621
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB