Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.2303 | Sponsor: Rep. Craig, Angie (D-MN)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act of 2021
This bill directs the Department of Education to award grants to institutions of higher education that sponsor construction and manufacturing-oriented registered apprenticeship programs for (1) expanding or supporting outreach to high schools, local businesses, and local workforce development boards; and (2) providing advising and support services to students who are enrolled in these apprenticeship programs.

To authorize funding to expand and support enrollment at institutions 
    of higher education that sponsor construction and manufacturing-
  oriented registered apprenticeship programs, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges 
Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. COMMUNITY OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--From the amounts appropriated under subsection 
(f), the Secretary of Education shall provide grants to eligible 
entities for the purposes of expanding or supporting potential student 
and employer outreach carried out by such entities with respect to the 
construction and manufacturing-oriented registered apprenticeship 
programs offered by such entities.
    (b) Amounts.--The total grant amount made to an eligible entity 
under this section may not exceed $500,000.
    (c) Use of Grants.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under 
this section shall use such grant for the outreach described in 
subsection (a), which shall include the following:
            (1) Outreach to high schools, for the purpose of educating 
        students, parents, guardians, and faculty on the benefits of 
        enrolling in the construction and manufacturing-oriented 
        registered apprenticeship program offered by the eligible 
        entity.
            (2) Outreach to local businesses and other potential 
        employers for the purpose of educating such employers on the 
        benefits of hiring graduates of such program, which shall--
                    (A) primarily target relationship building with 
                potential employers in rural, exurban, and suburban 
                areas; and
                    (B) seek to maximize the number of students who 
                work in such areas after completing such program.
            (3) Outreach to local workforce development boards for the 
        purpose of reaching nontraditional student populations and 
        prioritizing local needs.
    (d) Application Requirements.--An eligible entity seeking a grant 
under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require.
    (e) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to eligible entities that demonstrate outreach 
efforts targeted at increasing program enrollment for rural, first 
generation, minority, and nontraditional students, or other students 
from underrepresented population.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $5,000,000 to carry out this section for each of the 
fiscal years 2021 through 2025.

SEC. 3. STUDENT SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAM FOR EXPANDED ACADEMIC ADVISING.

    (a) In General.--From the amounts appropriated under subsection 
(g), the Secretary of Education shall provide grants to eligible 
entities for the activities described in subsection (d).
    (b) Amounts.--The total grant amount made to an eligible entity 
under this section may not exceed $500,000.
    (c) Multiple Grants Permitted.--An eligible entity may receive a 
grant under sections 2 and 3.
    (d) Use of Grants.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible entity that receives a grant 
        under this section shall use such grant for advising and 
        support services to enrollees of construction and 
        manufacturing-oriented registered apprenticeship programs 
        offered by such entity to increase retention and persistence 
        for students.
            (2) Requirements.--Such advising and support services shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) Expanding academic advising programs that 
                provide services to students, including the following:
                            (i) Career advising and professional 
                        development.
                            (ii) Support for English as a second 
                        language students.
                            (iii) Information and resource systems.
                            (iv) Mentoring systems.
                            (v) Other such programs.
                    (B) Expanding student support programs that provide 
                services to students, including the following:
                            (i) Health and family-related services, 
                        including substance abuse disorder and mental 
                        health counseling.
                            (ii) Support for first-generation students.
                            (iii) Childcare support.
                            (iv) Other such programs.
                            (v) In the case of an eligible entity that 
                        is a construction and manufacturing-oriented 
                        registered apprenticeship program, maintaining 
                        its accreditation by a nationally recognized 
                        accrediting agency or association recognized by 
                        the Secretary of Education pursuant to part H 
                        of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
                        (20 U.S.C. 1099a et seq.),
    (e) Application Requirements.--An eligible entity seeking a grant 
under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require.
    (f) Report.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible entity that receives a grant 
        under this section shall submit to the Secretary a report on--
                    (A) the activities supported by the grant;
                    (B) the number of students participating in the 
                activities supported by the grant;
                    (C) any progress made in achieving the goals of the 
                program supported by the grant, in general, and 
                measuring in particular--
                            (i) the effectiveness of the grant in 
                        expanding overall enrollment and program 
                        completion rates; and
                            (ii) the effectiveness of the grant in 
                        expanding enrollment and program completion 
                        rates for underrepresented populations; and
                    (D) such other information as the Secretary 
                determines to be appropriate.
            (2) Timeline for submission of report.--The report under 
        paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the Secretary not later 
        than 180 days after the date on which the eligible entity 
        concludes the activities supported by the grant under this 
        section.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2021 through 2025.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Construction and manufacturing-oriented apprenticeship 
        college.--The term ``construction and manufacturing-oriented 
        apprenticeship college'' means--
                    (A) an institution of higher education that is a 
                sponsor of a construction and manufacturing-oriented 
                registered apprenticeship program; or
                    (B) a construction and manufacturing-oriented 
                registered apprenticeship program.
            (2) Construction and manufacturing-oriented registered 
        apprenticeship program.--The term ``construction and 
        manufacturing-oriented registered apprenticeship program'' 
        means a registered apprenticeship program that--
                    (A) provides coursework and training in preparation 
                for employment in the construction or manufactory 
                industry (such as employment as a painter, drywall 
                finisher, glazier, or glassworker);
                    (B)(i) leads to a recognized postsecondary 
                credential other than a certificate of completion of an 
                apprenticeship; or
                    (ii) awards credits that can be applied toward a 
                recognized postsecondary credential; and
                    (C) is accredited by a nationally recognized 
                accrediting agency or association recognized by the 
                Secretary of Education pursuant to part H of title IV 
                of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099a et 
                seq.).
            (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        construction and manufacturing-oriented apprenticeship college.
            (4) First generation college student.--The term ``first 
        generation college student'' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 402A(h) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1070a-11(h)).
            (5) High school.--The term ``high school'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (6) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (7) Outreach.--The term ``outreach'' means communications 
        and relationship-building opportunities undertaken by an 
        eligible entity.
            (8) Recognized postsecondary credential.--The term 
        ``recognized postsecondary credential'' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (9) Registered apprenticeship program.--The term 
        ``registered 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.).
            (10) Second language.--The term ``second language'' means 
        any language other than English, including Braille and American 
        Sign Language.
            (11) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
            (12) Underrepresented population.--The term 
        ``underrepresented population'' means an individual who is from 
        a group whose gender, ethnic background, or national origin is 
        not traditionally represented in registered apprenticeship 
        programs.
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