Title: Workforce Advance Act
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Workforce Advance Act
This bill amends the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to include dual or concurrent enrollment and early college high school options as part of the Act's supported career technical education (CTE) programs. (Dual and concurrent enrollment programs and early college courses allow students to earn college credit while still in high school.)
The bill allows: (1) schools to use a portion of funding received under the Act for tuition and fees for CTE college courses, and (2) school districts to use such funding to support educators pursuing the credentials they need to teach these courses in their high schools.
The Department of Education may include in its demonstration and dissemination of best practices information on CTE programs methods and techniques for providing and integrating dual or concurrent enrollment, early college high schools, pre-apprenticeship programs, and other opportunities for secondary students to earn postsecondary education credit in CTE programs.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 795 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 795

To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 
regarding dual or concurrent enrollment and early college high schools.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 30, 2017

 Mr. Bennet (for himself and Mr. Hatch) introduced the following bill; 
     which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 
regarding dual or concurrent enrollment and early college high schools.

    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 ``Workforce Advance Act''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE CARL D. PERKINS CAREER AND TECHNICAL 
              EDUCATION ACT OF 2006.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302) is amended--
            (1) paragraph (7)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
                ``opportunities,'' after ``regarding career 
                awareness''; and
                    (B) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as 
                follows:
                    ``(B) provides information to students (and 
                parents, as appropriate) with respect to career 
                options, financial aid, job training, and secondary and 
                postsecondary education options, including 
                baccalaureate degree programs, dual or concurrent 
                enrollment, and early college high schools, as 
                appropriate.'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (10), paragraphs (11) 
        through (23), and paragraphs (24) through (34), as paragraph 
        (11), paragraphs (14) through (26), and paragraphs (28) through 
        (38), respectively;
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
            ``(10) Credit transfer agreement.--The term `credit 
        transfer agreement' refers to an opportunity for secondary 
        school students to be awarded transcripted postsecondary 
        credit, supported with formal agreements among secondary and 
        postsecondary education systems or different levels within 
        postsecondary systems, such as dual or concurrent enrollment, 
        dual credit, 2-year to 4-year college articulation agreements, 
        or articulated credit, which may include credit awarded for 
        performance on technical assessments.'';
            (4) by inserting after paragraph (11), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (2), the following:
            ``(12) Dual or concurrent enrollment.--The term `dual or 
        concurrent enrollment' means a dual or concurrent enrollment 
        program as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965.
            ``(13) Early college high school.--The term `early college 
        high school' has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.''; and
            (5) by inserting after paragraph (26), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (2), the following:
            ``(27) Pre-apprenticeship program.--The term `pre-
        apprenticeship program' means a program or set of strategies 
        that--
                    ``(A) is designed to prepare individuals to enter 
                and succeed in a registered apprenticeship program;
                    ``(B) is carried out in partnership with at least 1 
                sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program; and
                    ``(C) includes each of the following elements:
                            ``(i) Training (including a curriculum for 
                        the training), aligned with industry standards 
                        and reviewed and approved annually by sponsors 
                        of the registered apprenticeships within the 
                        documented partnership, that will prepare 
                        individuals by teaching the skills and 
                        competencies needed to enter one or more 
                        registered apprenticeship programs.
                            ``(ii) Provision of hands-on training and 
                        theoretical education to individuals that--
                                    ``(I) accurately simulates the 
                                industry and occupational conditions of 
                                the registered apprenticeship program 
                                described in subparagraph (B);
                                    ``(II) is carried out in a manner 
                                that includes proper observation of 
                                supervision and safety protocols; and
                                    ``(III) is carried out in a manner 
                                that does not displace a paid employee.
                            ``(iii) A formal agreement with a sponsor 
                        of a registered apprenticeship program that 
                        would enable participants who successfully 
                        complete the pre-apprenticeship program to 
                        enter directly into the registered 
                        apprenticeship program (if a place in the 
                        program is available), and includes agreements 
                        concerning earning credit recognized by a 
                        postsecondary educational institution for 
                        skills and competencies acquired during the 
                        pre-apprenticeship program.''.
    (b) Local Reporting.--Section 113 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2323) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(4)(C)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by inserting before the period 
                at the end the following: ``and, in the case of an 
                eligible recipient that is a local educational agency, 
                the data described in clause (iii)'';
                    (B) by redesignating clauses (iii) through (v) as 
                clauses (iv) through (vi), respectively;
                    (C) in clause (ii), by striking ``clauses (iii) and 
                (iv)'' and inserting ``clauses (iv) and (v)''; and
                    (D) by inserting after clause (ii) the following:
                            ``(iii) Secondary school reporting.--Each 
                        eligible recipient that is a local educational 
                        agency and receives an allocation described in 
                        section 112 shall report, for each secondary 
                        school served by the eligible recipient under 
                        this part--
                                    ``(I) the number and percentage of 
                                students enrolled in, and the number 
                                and percentage of students completing, 
                                career and technical education courses 
                                as part of dual or concurrent 
                                enrollment or an early college high 
                                school;
                                    ``(II) the number and percentage of 
                                students whose tuition and fees in dual 
                                or concurrent enrollment or early 
                                college high school were paid, in part 
                                or in full, using funding under this 
                                Act, and the per-pupil amount per such 
                                student, if applicable; and
                                    ``(III) the number of teachers 
                                receiving support from funding under 
                                this Act to obtain required 
                                credentials, as described under section 
                                135(c)(21), and the per-teacher amount 
                                of such support, if applicable.''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)(1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) the information reported under subsection 
                (b)(4)(C)(iii).''.
    (c) National Activities.--Section 114(d) of the Carl D. Perkins 
Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2324(d)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4)(A)--
                    (A) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v);
                    (B) in clause (iii)--
                            (i) in subclause (II), by striking ``and'' 
                        after the semicolon; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                                    ``(IV) activities and strategies to 
                                provide teachers, principals, or other 
                                school leaders with opportunities to 
                                complete coursework or acquire skills, 
                                credentials, or certifications required 
                                to educate students in postsecondary 
                                career and technical education 
                                coursework as part of a career and 
                                technical education program through 
                                early college high school or dual or 
                                concurrent enrollment;''; and
                    (C) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:
                            ``(iv) to carry out evidence-based research 
                        and evaluation for the purpose of developing, 
                        improving, and identifying the most successful 
                        methods, best practices, and models for 
                        providing dual or concurrent enrollment, early 
                        college high schools, and other opportunities 
                        for students to earn postsecondary career and 
                        technical education credit while still in high 
                        school as part of career and technical 
                        education programs; and''; and
            (2) in paragraph (5)--
                    (A) by inserting ``or eligible recipient'' after 
                ``upon request of a State''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``, including for providing and 
                integrating dual or concurrent enrollment, early 
                college high schools, pre-apprenticeship programs, and 
                other opportunities for secondary students to earn 
                postsecondary education credit, in career and technical 
                educational programs'' after ``under this Act''.
    (d) State Plan.--Section 122(c) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2342) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (I)--
                            (i) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' 
                        after the semicolon;
                            (ii) in clause (iii), by inserting ``and'' 
                        after the semicolon; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iv) that allow secondary school students 
                        to earn postsecondary credit, such as through 
                        dual or concurrent enrollment and early college 
                        high schools, including how, if applicable, 
                        funds will be used to provide assistance to 
                        local educational agencies and students to 
                        defray the costs of postsecondary courses (such 
                        as tuition, fees, and textbooks), particularly 
                        for students who are underrepresented in higher 
                        education'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (K), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (C) in subparagraph (L), by inserting ``and'' after 
                the semicolon; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(M) how the eligible agency will enable or 
                support the development and implementation of dual or 
                concurrent enrollment or early college high school 
                career and technical education opportunities as part of 
                a career and technical education program, and ensure 
                the dual or concurrent enrollment credit 
                transferability toward a postsecondary education 
                credential or degree;''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (B) in subparagraph (G), by inserting ``and'' after 
                the semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(H) provides teachers, principals, or other 
                school leaders with the skills, coursework, 
                credentials, or certifications required to educate 
                students in postsecondary career and technical 
                education coursework through early college high school 
                or dual or concurrent enrollment;''.
    (e) State Leadership Activities.--Section 124 of the Carl D. 
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2344) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                    (B) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(10) the development and dissemination of model 
        articulation agreements and memoranda of understanding to 
        support local educational agencies, secondary schools, and 
        postsecondary institutions with the process of arranging such 
        agreements and memoranda.''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``statewide'' 
                before ``articulation agreements'';
                    (B) in paragraph (10)(A)(ii), by inserting ``, 
                including the development of dual or concurrent 
                enrollment or early college high school programs'' 
                after ``education and training'';
                    (C) in paragraph (16)(B), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (D) in paragraph (17), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting a semicolon; and
                    (E) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(18) supporting, facilitating, or providing dual or 
        concurrent enrollment or early college high school career and 
        technical education opportunities as part of a career and 
        technical education program in secondary schools (particularly 
        for students who are underrepresented in higher education and 
        students in areas with limited access to higher education 
        courses, including rural communities), which may include--
                    ``(A) providing distance learning or interactive 
                video conferencing; or
                    ``(B) paying for the costs of tuition, fees, and 
                books;
            ``(19) developing, or assisting local educational agencies 
        in developing, strategies that provide teachers, principals, or 
        other school leaders with the skills, coursework, credentials, 
        or certifications required to educate students in postsecondary 
        career and technical education coursework through early college 
        high school or dual or concurrent enrollment; and
            ``(20) developing, or assisting local educational agencies 
        and postsecondary institutions in developing, processes and 
        agreements to provide secondary and postsecondary education 
        credit for apprenticeships and work-based learning 
        experiences.''.
    (f) Local Plan.--Section 134(b)(3) of the Carl D. Perkins Career 
and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2354(b)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ``and'' after the 
        semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) provide secondary school students with 
                opportunities for dual or concurrent enrollment, early 
                college high school, or other opportunities to earn 
                postsecondary career and technical education credit, if 
                applicable;''.
    (g) Local Uses of Funds.--Section 135 of the Carl D. Perkins Career 
and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2355) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (19)(D), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (20) as paragraph 
                (22); and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (19) the 
                following:
            ``(20) to support career and technical education dual or 
        concurrent enrollment courses or career and technical education 
        courses in early college high schools as part of a career and 
        technical education program in accordance with subsection (d), 
        including using funds for the costs associated with dual or 
        concurrent enrollment or early college high school career and 
        technical education courses for eligible students, which, if 
        identified in the needs assessment, may include paying for--
                    ``(A) the costs of tuition, fees, books, and 
                required instructional materials for eligible students 
                in a relevant career and technical education course or 
                program; and
                    ``(B) support services, including transportation 
                costs to and from such courses or programs for eligible 
                students;
            ``(21) to support activities and strategies that provide 
        teachers with the skills, postsecondary coursework, 
        credentials, or certifications, required to educate students in 
        postsecondary career and technical education coursework as part 
        of a career and technical education program through dual or 
        concurrent enrollment or early college high school, in 
        accordance with subsection (d); and'';
            (2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
            (3) by adding after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Special Rules.--
            ``(1) Rules relating to supporting eligible students in 
        certain courses.--For purposes of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of 
        subsection (c)(20)--
                    ``(A) an eligible recipient may use not more than a 
                total of 15 percent of funds received under this part 
                to support the activities described in subparagraphs 
                (A) and (B) of subsection (c)(20), in the aggregate, 
                unless an eligible recipient--
                            ``(i) receives approval from the State, in 
                        which case the eligible recipient may use not 
                        more than a total of 25 percent of such funds 
                        for such activities, in the aggregate; or
                            ``(ii) is a rural local educational agency 
                        with a locale code 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43, or an 
                        educational service agency representing rural 
                        local educational agencies with locale codes 
                        32, 33, 41, 42, or 43, and receives approval 
                        from the State, in which case the eligible 
                        recipient may use not more than a total of 40 
                        percent of such funds for such activities, in 
                        the aggregate;
                    ``(B) in order to use funds under this Act for any 
                activity described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of 
                subsection (c)(20), an eligible recipient must 
                demonstrate that not less than 50 percent of any 
                individualized student expenses for such activities are 
                being met--
                            ``(i) by funds other than those provided 
                        under this Act;
                            ``(ii) through in-kind tuition reduction; 
                        or
                            ``(iii) through a combination of the 
                        methods described in clauses (i) and (ii); and
                    ``(C) the term `eligible student' means a secondary 
                school student who is eligible for a free or reduced 
                price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National 
                School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.).
            ``(2) Rules relating to tuition and fees for secondary 
        school teachers.--As part of the activities described in 
        subsection (c)(21), an eligible recipient may use not more than 
        40 percent of funds received under this part to pay the costs 
        of the tuition and fees for a secondary school teacher 
        employed, at the time such funds are used, in a school served 
        under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 in order to enable that teacher to meet 
        the requirements (including by completing postsecondary 
        education coursework or professional development) to teach dual 
        or concurrent enrollment or early college high school career 
        and technical education courses as part of a career and 
        technical education program that is offered or will be offered 
        in such school.
            ``(3) Exception.--Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), 
        activities that are a permissible use of such funds under a 
        provision of this Act other than subparagraphs (A) and (B) of 
        subsection (c)(20) and subsection (c)(21) shall not be subject 
        to the spending caps under this subsection.''.
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