Strengthening Youth Apprenticeships Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.518 | Sponsor: Rep. Castro, Joaquin (D-TX)
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Strengthening Youth Apprenticeships Act of 2021
This bill requires (1) the Office of Apprenticeship within the Department of Labor to enter into an agreement with the Department of Education to promote the integration and alignment of apprenticeship programs with secondary, postsecondary, and adult education; and (2) Labor to award grants to eligible entities to create or expand youth apprenticeship programs.

To direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants to eligible entities 
         to carry out or expand youth apprenticeship programs.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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 2021''.

SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the effective date of 
the Strengthening Youth Apprenticeships Act of 2021, in order to 
cooperate with the Secretary of Education and promote awareness and 
adoption of apprenticeship programs, the Secretary (acting through the 
Administrator) 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, postsecondary, and adult education, through the 
        activities described in this section; and
            (2) submit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions of Senate, such agreement and 
        any modifications 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 better 
                understanding of programs under the national 
                apprenticeship system and their value in secondary and 
                postsecondary education and career pathways by not 
                later than middle school; and
                    (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 programs with secondary and 
                career and technical education programs; and
            (2) technical assistance on how to--
                    (A) align related instruction and apprenticeable 
                occupation skills and competencies to high school 
                graduation requirements;
                    (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 apprentices 
                who have completed their youth apprenticeships 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 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 Education 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 eligible 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 programs for individuals that include 
nontraditional apprenticeship populations.
    (c) Geographic Distribution.--In awarding grants under this 
subsection, the Secretary 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.

SEC. 4. APPLICATIONS.

    An eligible entity desiring to receive a grant under this Act shall 
submit an application to the Secretary, at such time, in such manner, 
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 industry sectors or 
        occupations.
            (4) How such program will recruit and retain to ensure that 
        non-traditional apprenticeship populations participate in such 
        program.
            (5) How such program will, to the extent practicable, 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 activities, and enable the 
        participants to enroll in further education, gain employment 
        after program completion.
            (7) An assurance that the eligible entity will--
                    (A) provide information to the Administrator, 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 reports 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 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 competencies 
        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 curriculum 
        development and alignment of that curriculum with industry-
        recognized credentials, high school graduation requirements, 
        and related instruction, 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 supporting new program 
                development or program expansion.
                    (B) Providing employers technical assistance to 
                support the participation of youth apprentices under 
                the age of 18.
                    (C) Providing technical assistance to support the 
                participation of small- and medium-sized businesses in 
                youth apprenticeship programs.
            (6) Providing supportive services and career planning 
        activities, including career exploration of postsecondary 
        opportunities such as apprenticeship programs, for the 
        participants of the youth apprenticeship program, which may 
        include--
                    (A) promoting the early exposure of students 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 challenges.
            (7) Providing teachers, career guidance and academic 
        counselors, school leaders, administrators, specialized 
        instructional support personnel, and paraprofessionals with 
        professional development opportunities to build an 
        understanding of apprenticeship 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 financial 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 unsubsidized 
        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 unsubsidized 
        employment, during the fourth quarter after exit from the 
        program;
            (3) the median earnings of program participants 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 recognized 
                equivalent, as measured by--
                            (i) the four-year adjusted cohort 
                        graduation rate (defined in section 8101 of the 
                        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
                        1965); and
                            (ii) at the State's discretion, the 
                        extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate 
                        defined in such section 8101; and
            (5) the percentage of program participants who, during a 
        program year, are in an education or training program that 
        leads to a recognized postsecondary credential or employment 
        and who are achieving measurable skill gains toward such a 
        credential or employment; and
            (6) the percentage of program participants who are in 
        employment, an apprenticeship, or other education and training 
        activities in an industry sector or occupation for which the 
        youth apprenticeship program 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 2022 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 
        Apprenticeship Act''; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 
        et seq.).
            (2) Community college.--The term ``community college'' 
        means a public institution of higher education at which the 
        highest degree awarded is an associate's degree.
            (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' 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 include--
                            (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 concurrent enrollment 
        program'', ``English learner'', ``high school'', ``local 
        educational agency'', 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).
            (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 populations.--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 apprenticeship programs.
            (7) WIOA terms.--The terms ``local board'', ``community-
        based organization'', ``in-demand industry sector or 
        occupation'', and ``industry or sector partnership'' have the 
        meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (8) Youth apprenticeship program.--The term ``youth 
        apprenticeship program'' means a program 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:
                    (A) The employment and training to be received by 
                each youth apprentice participating in the program, 
                including--
                            (i) an outline of the work processes or 
                        plan in which the youth apprentice will receive 
                        supervised work experience and training 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 explaining 
                        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 described in section 
                6.
                    (C) Related classroom-based instruction, which may 
                be fulfilled through dual or concurrent enrollment, and 
                is, to the extent practicable, aligned with high school 
                diploma requirements and career clusters.
                    (D) A progressively increasing, clearly defined 
                schedule of wages to be paid to the youth apprentice.
                    (E) Provides all individuals with an equal 
                opportunity to participate in youth apprenticeships 
                under the program, including through the method for the 
                selection of youth apprentices.
                    (F) The methods used to measure skill acquisition 
                for an apprentice, including ongoing assessment against 
                established skill and competency 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 providing 
                        a safe work and training environment.
                    (I) The program awards a certificate of completion 
                in recognition of successful completion of the program, 
                evidenced by an appropriate certificate issued by the 
                registration agency, and culminates in a recognized 
                postsecondary credential.
                    (J) The program provides that an individual who is 
                to become a youth apprentice enters into a written 
                apprenticeship agreement with the sponsor of the 
                program.
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