I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 658 
To direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants to eligible entities to 
carry out or expand youth apprenticeship programs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 31, 2023 
Mr. CASTRO of Texas (for himself, Mr. GUTHRIE, and Ms. SPANBERGER) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Edu-
cation and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants to eligible 
entities to carry out or expand youth apprenticeship pro-
grams. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening Youth 
Apprenticeships Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
effective date of the Strengthening Youth Apprenticeships 
Act of 2023, in order to cooperate with the Secretary of 
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Education and promote awareness and adoption of ap-
prenticeship programs, the Secretary of Labor shall— 
(1) enter into an interagency agreement with 
the Secretary of Education to promote and support 
integration and alignment of programs under the 
national apprenticeship system with secondary, post-
secondary, and adult education, through the activi-
ties described in this section; and 
(2) submit to the Committee on Education and 
the Workforce of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of Senate, such agreement and any modi-
fications to such agreement. 
(b) ALIGNMENT FOR YOUTH APPRENTICESHIPS.—In 
order to promote alignment between youth apprenticeship 
programs and high school graduation requirements, the 
interagency agreement under subsection (a) shall describe 
how the Secretaries will work to provide— 
(1) information and resources to— 
(A) parents and students to promote a bet-
ter understanding of programs under the na-
tional apprenticeship system and their value in 
secondary and postsecondary education and ca-
reer pathways by not later than middle school; 
and 
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(B) school leaders (working with academic 
counselors, teachers, and faculty) about the 
value of such programs and information on how 
to effectively align youth apprenticeship pro-
grams with secondary and career and technical 
education programs; and 
(2) technical assistance on how to— 
(A) 
align 
related 
instruction 
and 
apprenticeable occupation skills and com-
petencies to high school graduation require-
ments; 
(B) offer related instruction through dual 
and concurrent enrollment programs and other 
accelerated learning programs, as described in 
section 4104(b)(3)(A)(i)(IV) of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 7114(b)(3)(A)(i)(IV)); 
(C) facilitate transitions for youth appren-
tices who have completed their youth appren-
ticeships into further education, including an 
associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degree, 
and related apprenticeship opportunities; and 
(D) align activities carried out under this 
Act with eligible funding from, and planning 
processes, for the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
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Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 
2301 et seq.), the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et 
seq.), the Individuals with Disabilities Edu-
cation Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and 
the Higher Education Act of 1965. 
SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—From the amounts appropriated 
under section 7, the Secretary of Labor, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Education, shall award grants to eli-
gible entities to create or expand youth apprenticeship 
programs. 
(b) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this Act, 
the Secretary shall prioritize eligible entities that will use 
the grant to carry out or expand youth apprenticeship pro-
grams for individuals that include nontraditional appren-
ticeship populations. 
(c) 
GEOGRAPHIC
DISTRIBUTION.—In 
awarding 
grants under this subsection, the Secretary of Labor shall, 
to the extent practicable, ensure an equitable geographic 
distribution of grants, including an equitable distribution 
among States, within States, and to urban and rural 
areas. 
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SEC. 4. APPLICATIONS. 
An eligible entity desiring to receive a grant under 
this Act shall submit an application to the Secretary of 
Labor, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary 
may require, and which shall include the following: 
(1) How the youth apprenticeship program the 
eligible entity will expand or carry out using the 
grant will meet the best practices and joint guidance 
developed under section 2. 
(2) How such program will be aligned with and 
fulfill the indicators described in section 6(a). 
(3) How such program will prepare individuals 
for work in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand in-
dustry sectors or occupations. 
(4) How such program will recruit and retain to 
ensure that non-traditional apprenticeship popu-
lations participate in such program. 
(5) How such program will, to the extent prac-
ticable, align with high school diploma requirements 
and career cluster. 
(6) The ability of the applicant, directly or 
through partners to enroll, instruct, advance, and 
graduate youth apprentices served by the grant ac-
tivities, and enable the participants to enroll in fur-
ther education, gain employment after program com-
pletion. 
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(7) An assurance that the eligible entity will— 
(A) provide information to the Adminis-
trator, as requested, for any such evaluations as 
the Administrator may carry out; 
(B) make program performance outcome 
data available (in accordance with applicable 
data privacy laws, including section 444 of the 
General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 
1232g)) to independent evaluators to enable the 
evaluators to prepare the evaluations and re-
ports under section 6; and 
(C) coordinate grant activities with a State 
Apprenticeship Agency, if such agency exists in 
the State where the eligible entity is applying 
for a grant or carrying out activities. 
SEC. 5. GRANT USES OF FUNDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity that receives a 
grant under this Act shall use the grant funds that are 
not reserved under subsection (b) to carry out or expand 
a youth apprenticeship program, which may include using 
the grant funds for 1 or more of the following: 
(1) Recruitment, retention, and completion of 
such program. 
(2) Program alignment with the challenging 
State academic standards adopted by the State in 
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which the program will be expanded or carried out 
under section 1111(b)(1) of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
6311(b)(1)) with the technical skills and career com-
petencies that are applicable to and transferable to 
high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors 
or occupations. 
(3) Paying for the costs associated with cur-
riculum development and alignment of that cur-
riculum with industry-recognized credentials, high 
school graduation requirements, and related instruc-
tion, including curriculum development for dual or 
concurrent enrollment. 
(4) Facilitating or expanding partnerships with 
a community college or consortium of community 
colleges to help with transferability of credits and 
the increased use of dual and concurrent enrollment 
programs. 
(5) Engaging employers for participation in 
youth apprenticeship programs, which may include: 
(A) Creating and expanding industry or 
sector partnerships for the purpose of sup-
porting new program development or program 
expansion. 
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(B) Providing employers technical assist-
ance to support the participation of youth ap-
prentices under the age of 18. 
(C) Providing technical assistance to sup-
port the participation of small- and medium- 
sized businesses in youth apprenticeship pro-
grams. 
(6) Providing supportive services and career 
planning activities, including career exploration of 
postsecondary opportunities such as apprenticeship 
programs, for the participants of the youth appren-
ticeship program, which may include— 
(A) promoting the early exposure of stu-
dents to the opportunities and requirements of 
apprenticeship programs; 
(B) creating opportunities for students to 
explore a career and develop occupational skills 
while in high school; and 
(C) supporting the costs associated with 
fees, transportation, child care, or mobility chal-
lenges. 
(7) Providing teachers, career guidance and 
academic counselors, school leaders, administrators, 
specialized instructional support personnel, and 
paraprofessionals with professional development op-
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portunities to build an understanding of apprentice-
ship opportunities available to students, including 
experiential opportunities like externships. 
(b) RESERVATION
OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity 
that receives a grant under this Act shall reserve not less 
than 5 percent of the grant funds to provide direct finan-
cial assistance for recruitment, retention, and completion 
efforts with respect to the youth apprenticeship program, 
such as housing, transportation, childcare, food insecurity, 
and health issues. 
SEC. 6. EVALUATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible entity receiving a 
grant under this Act shall submit, on an annual basis, to 
the Secretary a performance report with respect to the 
participants of the youth apprenticeship program receiving 
assistance under this Act that measures— 
(1) the percentage of program participants who 
are in education or training activities, or in unsub-
sidized employment, during the second quarter after 
exit from the program; 
(2) the percentage of program participants who 
are in education or training activities, or in unsub-
sidized employment, during the fourth quarter after 
exit from the program; 
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(3) the median earnings of program partici-
pants who are in unsubsidized employment during 
the second quarter after exit from the program; 
(4) the percentage of program participants who 
obtain, during participation in or within 1 year after 
exit from the program— 
(A) a recognized postsecondary credential; 
or 
(B) a secondary school diploma or its rec-
ognized equivalent, as measured by— 
(i) the four-year adjusted cohort grad-
uation rate (defined in section 8101 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965); and 
(ii) at the State’s discretion, the ex-
tended-year adjusted cohort graduation 
rate defined in such section 8101; 
(5) the percentage of program participants who, 
during a program year, are in an education or train-
ing program that leads to a recognized postsec-
ondary credential or employment and who are 
achieving measurable skill gains toward such a cre-
dential or employment; and 
(6) the percentage of program participants who 
are in employment, an apprenticeship, or other edu-
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cation and training activities in an industry sector or 
occupation for which the youth apprenticeship pro-
gram provides preparation. 
(b) DISAGGREGATION.—Each performance report 
submitted under subsection (a) shall be disaggregated by 
race, ethnicity, sex, age, and membership in a population 
specified in section 3(24) of the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102(24)). 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this Act for fiscal year 
2024 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years. 
SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘apprenticeship program’’ means an apprenticeship 
program registered under the Act of August 16, 
1937 (commonly known as the ‘‘National Appren-
ticeship Act’’; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 
50 et seq.). 
(2) COMMUNITY COLLEGE.—The term ‘‘commu-
nity college’’ means a public institution of higher 
education at which the highest degree awarded is an 
associate’s degree. 
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(3) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means a partnership that— 
(A) shall include— 
(i) 1 or more of the entities listed in 
clauses (i) through (iv) or clause (vii) of 
section 3(19)(A) of Carl D. Perkins Career 
and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 
U.S.C. 2302(19)(A)); and 
(ii) 1 or more community colleges; 
and 
(B) to the extent practicable, shall in-
clude— 
(i) a State or local board; 
(ii) an industry or sector partnership; 
(iii) a community-based organization; 
and 
(iv) the State Apprenticeship Agency, 
if such agency exists in the State in which 
the grant is awarded. 
(4) ESEA TERMS.—The terms ‘‘dual or concur-
rent enrollment program’’, ‘‘high school’’, and ‘‘sec-
ondary school’’ have the meanings given the terms 
in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
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(5) 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). 
(6) NON-TRADITIONAL APPRENTICESHIP POPU-
LATIONS.—The term ‘‘non-traditional apprenticeship 
populations’’ means individuals who are of a gender 
or from a race or ethnicity that comprises less than 
25 percent of the individuals participating in ap-
prenticeship programs. 
(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Labor. 
(8) WIOA TERMS.—The terms ‘‘local board’’, 
‘‘community-based organization’’, ‘‘in-demand indus-
try sector or occupation’’, and ‘‘industry or sector 
partnership’’ have the meanings given the terms in 
section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Oppor-
tunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102). 
(9) YOUTH
APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAM.—The 
term ‘‘youth apprenticeship program’’ means a pro-
gram designed for youth apprentices who at the 
start of the program are enrolled in high school and 
which includes each of the following core elements: 
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(A) The employment and training to be re-
ceived by each youth apprentice participating in 
the program, including— 
(i) an outline of the work processes or 
plan in which the youth apprentice will re-
ceive supervised work experience and train-
ing on the job or in an experiential setting; 
(ii) the allocation of the approximate 
amount of time to be spent in each major 
work process; 
(iii) mentoring that will be provided to 
the youth apprentice; and 
(iv) a description or timeline explain-
ing the periodic reviews and evaluations of 
the youth apprentice’s performance on the 
job and in related instruction. 
(B) A process for maintaining appropriate 
progress records, including the evaluations de-
scribed in section 6. 
(C) Related classroom-based instruction, 
which may be fulfilled through dual or concur-
rent enrollment, and is, to the extent prac-
ticable, aligned with high school diploma re-
quirements and career clusters. 
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(D) A progressively increasing, clearly de-
fined schedule of wages to be paid to the youth 
apprentice. 
(E) Provides all individuals with an equal 
opportunity to participate in youth apprentice-
ships under the program, including through the 
method for the selection of youth apprentices. 
(F) The methods used to measure skill ac-
quisition for an apprentice, including ongoing 
assessment against established skill and com-
petency standards, established against skill and 
competency standards. 
(G) Prepares the youth apprentice for 
placement in further education, employment, or 
an apprenticeship program. 
(H) The program— 
(i) has adequate and safe equipment, 
environments, and facilities for training 
and supervision; 
(ii) provides safety training on-the-job 
and in related instruction as applicable by 
apprenticeable occupation; and 
(iii) provides adequate training for 
mentors and qualified instructors on pro-
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