Title: Expanding America's Workforce Act of 2017
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Expanding America's Workforce Act of 2017
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to create a workforce Federal Pell Grant program, under which the Department of Education awards grants to students for attending career and technical education programs at institutions of higher education.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4078 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4078

 To establish various programs to ease the burden on undereducated and 
   financially deficient workers seeking to further their education.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 19, 2017

  Mr. Hunter (for himself and Mr. Hastings) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
                               Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish various programs to ease the burden on undereducated and 
   financially deficient workers seeking to further their education.

    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 ``Expanding America's Workforce Act of 
2017''.

SEC. 2. REVIEW OF GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT MEASUREMENT.

    Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Education shall prepare and submit to Congress, a report 
on the accuracy of the manner in which gainful employment is measured 
under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) for 
different geographic regions and courses of study.

SEC. 3. SHORT-TERM WORKFORCE FEDERAL PELL GRANTS.

    Section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a) 
is amended by inserting at the end the following:
    ``(k) Short-Term Workforce Pell Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--For award years beginning on or after 
        July 1, 2020, the Secretary shall carry out a program under 
        which the Secretary shall award Federal Pell Grants to eligible 
        students for short-term workforce programs.
            ``(2) Terms and conditions.--A Federal Pell Grant awarded 
        under this subsection (in this section referred to as a 
        `workforce Federal Pell Grant') shall have the same terms and 
        conditions, and be awarded in the same manner, as a Federal 
        Pell Grant awarded under subsection (a), except as follows:
                    ``(A) A student who is eligible to receive a 
                workforce Federal Pell Grant under this subsection is a 
                student who--
                            ``(i) has not, on or after the date that is 
                        10 years before the date on which the student 
                        applies for such grant, attained a 
                        baccalaureate degree or post baccalaureate 
                        degree;
                            ``(ii) attends an eligible institution, but 
                        was not previously enrolled in an eligible 
                        institution on or after the date that is 5 
                        years before the date on which the student 
                        applies for such grant;
                            ``(iii) is enrolled, or accepted for 
                        enrollment, in a short-term workforce program 
                        at such institution;
                            ``(iv) is determined, solely by the 
                        institution, that the student is unemployed or 
                        underemployed; and
                            ``(v) meets all other eligibility 
                        requirements for a Federal Pell Grant (except 
                        as otherwise provided in this paragraph).
                    ``(B) The amount of a workforce Pell Grant for an 
                eligible student shall be determined under subsection 
                (b)(2)(A), except that--
                            ``(i) the maximum Federal Pell Grant 
                        awarded under this subsection for an award year 
                        shall be 50 percent of the maximum Federal Pell 
                        Grant awarded under subsection (b) applicable 
                        to that award year;
                            ``(ii) no increase shall be calculated 
                        under subsection (b)(7)(B) for a student 
                        receiving workforce Pell Grant under this 
                        subsection; and
                            ``(iii) subsection (b)(4) shall not apply.
            ``(3) Inclusion in total eligibility period for recent 
        students.--Any period during which a student described in 
        paragraph (2)(A) receives a workforce Federal Pell Grant under 
        this subsection shall be included in calculating the student's 
        period of eligibility for Federal Pell Grants under subsection 
        (c), and any regulations under such subsection regarding 
        students who are enrolled in an undergraduate program on less 
        than a full-time basis shall similarly apply to students who 
        are enrolled in a short-term workforce program at an eligible 
        institution on less than a full-time basis.
            ``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection, the following 
        definitions apply:
                    ``(A) Eligible career pathway program.--The term 
                `eligible career pathway program' means a program that 
                is a combination of rigorous and high-quality 
                education, training, and other services that--
                            ``(i) aligns with the skill needs of 
                        industries in the State or regional economy 
                        involved;
                            ``(ii) prepares an individual to be 
                        successful in any of a full range of secondary 
                        or postsecondary education options, including 
                        apprenticeships registered under the Act of 
                        August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the 
                        `National Apprenticeship Act'; 50 Stat. 664; 29 
                        U.S.C. 50 et seq.);
                            ``(iii) includes counseling to support an 
                        individual in achieving the individual's 
                        education and career goals;
                            ``(iv) includes, as appropriate, education 
                        offered concurrently with and in the same 
                        context as workforce preparation activities and 
                        training for a specific occupation or 
                        occupational cluster;
                            ``(v) organizes education, training, and 
                        other services to meet the particular needs of 
                        an individual in a manner that accelerates the 
                        educational and career advancement of the 
                        individual to the extent practicable; and
                            ``(vi) helps an individual enter or advance 
                        within a specific occupation or occupational 
                        cluster.
                    ``(B) Short-term workforce program.--The term 
                `short-term workforce program' means a career and 
                technical education program at an institution of higher 
                education that--
                            ``(i) provides not less than 150 clock 
                        hours of instructional time over a period of 
                        not less than 8 weeks or more than 12 weeks;
                            ``(ii) provides training aligned with the 
                        requirements of employers in the State or local 
                        area, which may include in-demand industry 
                        sectors or occupations in the State or local 
                        area, as defined under section 3(23) of the 
                        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
                        U.S.C. 3102(23));
                            ``(iii) provides a student, upon completion 
                        of the program, with a recognized postsecondary 
                        credential, as defined under section 3(52) of 
                        the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
                        (29 U.S.C. 3102(52)), that is recognized by 
                        employers in the relevant industry, including 
                        credentials recognized by industry or sector 
                        partnerships in the State or local area where 
                        the industry is located;
                            ``(iv) has been determined, by the 
                        institution of higher education, to provide 
                        academic content, an amount of instructional 
                        time, and a recognized postsecondary credential 
                        that are sufficient to--
                                    ``(I) meet the hiring requirements 
                                of potential employers; and
                                    ``(II) allow the students to apply 
                                for any licenses or certifications that 
                                may be required to be employed in the 
                                field for which the job training is 
                                offered;
                            ``(v) may include integrated or basic 
                        skills courses; and
                            ``(vi) may be offered as part of an 
                        eligible career pathway program.
            ``(5) Special rule.--In the case of a career pathway 
        program being determined eligible for the first time under this 
        subsection, such determination shall be made by the Secretary 
        before such program is considered to be an eligible career 
        pathway program.
            ``(6) Ineligibility for double benefits.--No student may 
        receive both a workforce Federal Pell Grant under this 
        subsection and an additional Federal Pell Grant under 
        subsection (b)(8).''.

SEC. 4. CONNECTING APPRENTICESHIPS TO ACADEMIC DEGREES.

    (a) In General.--Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 is 
amended by inserting after section 486A (20 U.S.C. 1093a) the 
following:

``SEC. 486B. APPRENTICESHIP EXPANSION THROUGH ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Apprenticeship articulation agreement.--The term 
        `apprenticeship articulation agreement' means an agreement 
        between or among institutions of higher education that 
        specifies the college credit value of and acceptability of 
        certificates received through specific apprenticeship programs, 
        for purposes of transferring such credits toward meeting 
        specific degree or program requirements.
            ``(2) Apprenticeship program.--The term `apprenticeship 
        program' means an apprenticeship 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.).
    ``(b) Program to Encourage Apprenticeship Articulation 
Agreements.--
            ``(1) Program established.--The Secretary shall carry out a 
        program in cooperation with States, institutions of higher 
        education (including proprietary institutions), and sponsors of 
        apprenticeships programs, to develop, enhance, and implement 
        comprehensive apprenticeship articulation agreements between or 
        among such institutions. Such apprenticeship articulation 
        agreements shall be made widely and publicly available on the 
        websites of such States, sponsors and institutions. In 
        developing, enhancing, and implementing apprenticeship 
        articulation agreements, States, sponsors and institutions of 
        higher education may employ strategies, where applicable, 
        including--
                    ``(A) improving awareness of existing 
                apprenticeship articulation agreements;
                    ``(B) expanding participation of a wide variety of 
                institutions of higher education;
                    ``(C) improving management systems to regarding 
                course equivalency, transfer of credit, and 
                articulation; and
                    ``(D) strategies to ensure widespread acceptance 
                for the transfer of credits awarded to apprentices 
                pursuant to apprenticeship articulation agreements.
            ``(2) Coordination and technical assistance.--The 
        Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor, shall 
        provide technical assistance to States, sponsors and 
        institutions of higher education for the purposes of developing 
        and implementing apprenticeship articulation agreements in 
        accordance with this subsection.''.

SEC. 5. ENHANCING TRANSFER OF CREDIT AMONG SCHOOLS.

    (a) Transfer of Credit Policies.--Section 485(h)(1) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(h)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (A); and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) an assurance that for each credit earned at 
                another institution of higher education that is 
                accepted and rejected by the institution, such credit 
                will be publicly disclosed, and disaggregated by type 
                of institution at which such credit was earned, 
                accrediting agency or association, program, and if 
                applicable, the primary reason for the credit not being 
                accepted; and
                    ``(D) an assurance of the acceptance of credits 
                earned at another institution for an identical course 
                offered at the institution that has been reviewed by 
                the same accrediting agency or association at both such 
                institutions, and is at the introductory level as 
                determined by the agency or association, or in a case 
                in which the transfer of such credits is initially 
                denied by the institution, an assurance the student 
                will have the opportunity to take an assessment 
                administered by the institution to demonstrate 
                competency in such course for purposes of the transfer 
                of such credits.''.
    (b) Articulation Agreements.--Section 486A(b) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1093a) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as 
                subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the 
                following:
                    ``(C) identification of courses at each institution 
                in which an articulation agreement has been developed 
                to enable the transfer of credit for such courses to, 
                at a minimum, all other institutions accredited by the 
                same accrediting agency or association;''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``public''.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Education shall submit a report to Congress 
on a review of transfer of credit policies across institutions of 
higher education that--
            (1) determines the extent to which articulation agreements 
        (defined in section 486A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 1093a)) have resulted in reduced costs for students; 
        and
            (2) provides recommendations on how to incentivize the 
        expanded use of such articulation agreements.

SEC. 6. COMPETENCY-BASED EDUCATION.

    Section 481(b)(4) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1088(b)(4)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(4) For the purposes of this title, the term `eligible 
        program' includes an instructional program that measures 
        knowledge, skills, and experience through assessments of such 
        knowledge, skills, or experience in lieu of or in addition to 
        the use of credit hours or clock hours. In the case of a 
        program being determined eligible for the first time under this 
        paragraph, such determination shall be made by the Secretary 
        before such program is considered to be an eligible program.''.
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