Community College to Career Fund in Higher Education Act

Bill: 117-s-2800
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2021-09-22
Policy area: Education
Latest action: action_date: 2021-09-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-09-22
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Community College to Career Fund in Higher Education Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Education and the Department of Labor to award grants to community colleges for education and workforce training programs or related activities. Such programs or activities must lead to or expand opportunities for students to obtain recognized postsecondary credentials (e.g., associate degrees or industry-recognized certifications).</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2800 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 22 (legislative day, September 21), 2021 Ms. Duckworth (for herself, Mr. Durbin , Mrs. Feinstein , Mr. Van Hollen , Mrs. Shaheen , and Ms. Klobuchar ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support community college and industry partnerships, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Community College to Career Fund in Higher Education Act . 2. Community college to career fund Title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1161a et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: BB Community college to career fund 899. Community college and industry partnerships grant program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) WIOA definitions The terms career pathway , integrated education and training , individual with a barrier to employment , industry or sector partnership , in-demand industry sector or occupation , and recognized postsecondary credential have the meanings given to such terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3102 ). (2) Community college The term community college means an institution of higher education that is— (A) a degree-granting public institution of higher education at which the highest degree that is predominantly awarded to students is an associate degree; (B) a 2-year Tribal College or University, as defined in section 316; or (C) at the designation of the Secretary, a branch campus, college, or similarly defined and structured academic entity within a public 4-year institution of higher education at which the highest degree that is predominantly awarded to students is an associate degree and that is in existence as of the date of enactment of the Community College to Career Fund in Higher Education Act . (3) Education and workforce training program The term education and workforce training program — (A) means a career pathway program, or a program that utilizes integrated education and training strategies, that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential; and (B) includes a registered apprenticeship program, on-the-job training program, or paid internship, if the program or internship meets the requirements of subparagraph (A). (4) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means a community college, or a consortium of community colleges, that— (A) is part of an industry or sector partnership, or is working directly with an industry or sector partnership for purposes of a grant under this section; and (B) may, for purposes of a grant under this section and in addition to the industry or sector partnership described in subparagraph (A), partner with one or more of the following: (i) An eligible provider, as defined in section 203 of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3272 ). (ii) An institution of higher education, as defined in section 101 or 102(c). (iii) An elementary school or secondary school, as such terms are defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. (5) Registered apprenticeship program The term registered 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. ), that meets the standards of subpart A of part 29 and part 30 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations or any successor regulations. (6) Secretaries The term Secretaries means the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor, acting jointly in accordance with the interagency agreement described in subsection (h). (b) Grants authorized (1) In general Not later than the last day of the first full fiscal year following the date of enactment of the Community College to Career Fund in Higher Education Act and from funds appropriated under subsection (g), the Secretaries shall award competitive grants to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities to carry out education and workforce training programs or activities described in subsection (e). (2) Duration of grants A grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of not more than 5 years, subject to subsection (f)(3). (c) Application An eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretaries an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretaries determine is required. The application shall contain— (1) a grant proposal for each education and workforce training program or activity to be supported under the grant that includes a detailed description of— (A) the specific education and workforce training program or activity that will be supported, and the quality of the program or activity; (B) the extent to which the program or activity aligns with— (i) an overall strategic plan developed by the eligible entity in collaboration with an industry or sector partnership and, if applicable, other partner organizations; (ii) a statewide, regional, or local workforce development strategy, including strategies established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3201 et seq. ) and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006; and (iii) in-demand industry sectors or occupations; (C) quantitative data and evidence that demonstrates the extent to which the program or activity to be supported will meet the needs of employers in the area for skilled workers in in-demand industry sectors or occupations; (D) the extent to which the program or activity to be supported will meet the needs of students in the area; (E) how the program or activity to be supported meets the criteria established under subsection (d), including the manner in which the grant will be used to develop, offer, improve, or provide the program or activity; and (F) any previous experience of the eligible entity in successfully providing education and workforce training programs or activities, the absence of which shall not automatically disqualify an eligible entity from receiving a grant under this section; and (2) (A) a detailed description of how the eligible entity will ensure that any education and workforce training programs or activities supported under the grant will meet the performance measures described in subsection (f); and (B) an assurance that the entity will annually submit to the Secretaries information on the performance of each education and workforce training program or activity supported under the grant, in the context of the performance measures described in subsection (f). (d) Criteria for award (1) In general Grants under this section shall be awarded based on criteria established by the Secretaries that shall include, at a minimum, the following: (A) A determination of the merits of the grant proposal submitted by the eligible entity to develop, offer, improve, or provide an education and workforce training program or activity to be made available to students. (B) An assessment of the likely employment opportunities available in the area to individuals who complete an education and workforce training program or activity that the eligible entity proposes to develop, offer, improve, or provide under the grant, based on State or local labor market data. (2) Priority In awarding grants under this section, the Secretaries shall give priority to eligible entities that— (A) are working with an industry or sector partnership that prioritizes facilitating the hiring of individuals who have obtained a recognized postsecondary credential from the education and workforce training programs or activities offered by the eligible entity; (B) are focused on serving individuals with barriers to employment or other historically underrepresented students, such as veterans, spouses of members of the Armed Forces, or incumbent workers who need to increase their employability skills; (C) serve areas with high unemployment rates; or (D) commit to increasing access to education and workforce training programs or activities that meet the needs of employers in in-demand industry sectors or occupations. (e) Use of funds An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use grant funds for 1 or more of the following: (1) The development, offering, improvement, or provision of 1 or more education and workforce training programs or activities leading to recognized postsecondary credentials that will meet the needs of employers in in-demand industry sectors or occupations. (2) The development and implementation of policies, programs, or activities that expand opportunities for students to earn a recognized postsecondary credential in in-demand industry sectors or occupations, including by— (A) facilitating the transfer of academic credits between community colleges and public 4-year institutions of higher education in the State, including the transfer of academic credits for courses in the same field or program of study; (B) expanding articulation agreements and policies that guarantee transfers between such institutions described in subparagraph (A), including through common course numbering and use of general core curriculum; (C) developing or enhancing student support service programs or activities; and (D) establishing policies and processes for assessing and awarding postsecondary credit for prior learning or work-based learning (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006). (3) The creation or alignment of career pathways that provide a sequence of education and occupational training that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential, including programs or activities that— (A) integrate education and training; (B) facilitate means of transitioning participants from noncredit occupational, basic skills, or developmental coursework to for-credit coursework within and across community colleges; (C) build or enhance linkages between secondary education or adult education and literacy programs (including those programs established under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 or the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3201 et seq. )) and community colleges, including the development of dual or concurrent enrollment programs; or (D) are designed to increase the provision of workforce training for students, including students who are members of the Armed Forces (including members of the National Guard or Reserves) and veterans, in order to facilitate their entry into high-skill, high-wage jobs or in-demand industry sectors or occupations. (4) Carrying out the academic portion of a registered apprenticeship program or other education and workforce training program, which may include funding to support a student’s cost of attendance as defined under section 472. (f) Performance measures (1) In general The Secretaries shall establish performance measures for the education and workforce training programs and activities supported under this section, which shall consist of— (A) the primary indicators of performance, as described in section 116(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A)(i) ); and (B) a level of performance for each indicator described in subparagraph (A). (2) Monitoring progress The Secretaries shall— (A) monitor the progress of eligible entities that receive grants under this section to ensure their education and workforce training programs or activities supported under this section meet the performance measures established under paragraph (1); and (B) annually publish a report regarding the progress of such programs or activities in meeting the performance measures, including the results for each performance measure disaggregated by— (i) race and ethnicity; (ii) income (iii) age intervals; (iv) sex; and (v) Federal Pell Grant recipient status. (3) Satisfactory progress The Secretaries shall not continue to provide funds under a grant under this section after the third year of the grant period unless the eligible entity has achieved satisfactory progress toward meeting the levels of performance on the performance measures, as determined by the Secretaries. (g) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary. (2) Administrative cost Not more than 5 percent of the amounts made available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year may be used by the Secretaries for the Federal administration of the program under this section, including providing technical assistance and carrying out evaluations. (3) Period of availability Funds appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year shall remain available for obligation for that fiscal year and the succeeding 4 fiscal years. (h) Interagency agreement Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the Community College to Career Fund in Higher Education Act , the Secretaries shall enter into a formal interagency agreement establishing the terms by which the Secretaries shall jointly administer the program under this section. .