[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4580 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4580
To establish, improve, or expand high-quality workforce development
programs at community colleges, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 18, 2024
Mr. Warnock (for himself and Mr. Braun) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish, improve, or expand high-quality workforce development
programs at community colleges, 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 ``Pathways to Prosperity Act''.
SEC. 2. STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY COLLEGES GRANT PROGRAM.
Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 172 as section 173; and
(2) by inserting after section 171 the following:
``SEC. 172. STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY COLLEGES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
GRANTS PROGRAM.
``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
``(1) to establish, improve, or expand high-quality
workforce development programs at community colleges;
``(2) to expand opportunities for individuals to obtain
recognized postsecondary credentials that are nationally or
regionally portable and stackable for in-demand industry
sectors or occupations;
``(3) to better align high-quality workforce development
programs at community colleges with local industry needs and
in-demand industry sectors or occupations; and
``(4) to strengthen partnerships between employers in in-
demand industry sectors or occupations and community colleges
for the purpose of ensuring high-quality workforce development
curriculums.
``(b) Strengthening Community Colleges Workforce Development Grants
Program.--
``(1) In general.--From the amounts appropriated to carry
out this section under section 173(e) and not reserved under
paragraph (2), the Secretary shall, on a competitive basis,
award grants to eligible institutions, to work with eligible
partnerships to carry out the activities described in
subsection (e).
``(2) Reservation.--Of the amounts appropriated to carry
out this section under section 173(e), the Secretary may
reserve not more than 2 percent for the administration of
grants awarded under this section, including--
``(A) providing technical assistance and targeted
outreach to support eligible institutions serving a
high number or high percentage of low-income
individuals or individuals with barriers to employment,
and rural-serving eligible institutions, to provide
guidance and assistance in the process of applying for
grants under this section; and
``(B) evaluating and reporting on the performance
and impact of programs funded under this section in
accordance with subsections (f) through (h).
``(c) Award Period.--
``(1) Initial grant period.--Each grant awarded under this
section shall be awarded for an initial period of not more than
4 years.
``(2) Subsequent grants.--An eligible institution that
receives an initial grant under this section may receive one or
more additional grants under this section, for additional
periods of not more than 4 years each, if the eligible
institution demonstrates that, during the most recently
completed grant period for a grant received under this section,
the institution's eligible partnership achieved the levels of
performance established under subsection (f) with respect to
the indicators of performance specified in subsection (f).
``(d) Application.--
``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an eligible institution shall submit an
application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as
the Secretary may require.
``(2) Contents.--An application submitted by an eligible
institution under paragraph (1) shall include a description of
each the following:
``(A) The extent to which the eligible institution
has demonstrated success building partnerships with
local employers in in-demand industry sectors or
occupations to carry out activities to provide students
with the skills needed for such occupations or
occupations in such industry sectors and an explanation
of the results of any such partnership activities.
``(B) The methods and strategies the eligible
institution will use to engage with employers in in-
demand industry sectors or occupations, including any
arrangements the institution will make to place
individuals who complete the workforce development
program supported by the grant into employment with
such employers.
``(C) The proposed eligible partnership that the
eligible institution will establish and maintain to
comply with subsection (e)(1) (referred to in this
section as an `eligible partnership'), including--
``(i) the roles and responsibilities
(including serving as a provider), determined
by the eligible institution, of each employer,
organization, agency, or institution of higher
education that the eligible institution will
partner with to carry out the activities under
this section; and
``(ii) the needs that will be addressed by
such eligible partnership.
``(D) One or more industry sectors or occupations
that such partnership will target and real-time labor
market data demonstrating that those sectors or
occupations are aligned with employer demand in the
geographic area to be served by the eligible
institution.
``(E) Information that consists of--
``(i) a description of the extent to which
the eligible institution will leverage
additional resources to support the program to
be funded with the grant, and an assurance that
the eligible institution will obtain a written
commitment for any leveraged funds (such as
matching funds) for the program;
``(ii) information demonstrating the future
sustainability of such program; and
``(iii) a description of any investments or
matching funds provided by employers
participating in the eligible partnerships.
``(F) The steps the institution will take to ensure
the high quality of the program to be funded with the
grant, including the career pathways within such
program.
``(G) The population and geographic area to be
served by the eligible institution, including the
number of individuals the eligible institution intends
to serve during the grant period.
``(H) The workforce development program to be
supported by the grant.
``(I) The recognized postsecondary credential that
is expected to be earned by participants in such
workforce development program and the related in-demand
industry sector or occupation for which such program
will prepare participants.
``(J) The evidence upon which the education and
skills development strategies to be used in such
workforce development program are based and an
explanation of how such evidence influenced the design
of the program to improve education and employment
outcomes.
``(K) How activities of the eligible institution
and its eligible partnership carried out through the
program are expected to align with the workforce
strategies identified in--
``(i) any State plan or local plan
submitted under this Act by the State, outlying
area, or locality in which the eligible
institution is expected to operate;
``(ii) any State plan submitted under
section 122 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C.
2342) by such State or outlying area; and
``(iii) any economic development plan of
the chief executive of such State or outlying
area.
``(L) The expected measures of the eligible
institution, for the eligible partnership, with respect
to--
``(i) a capacity building indicator (as
described in subsection (f)(1)(B)); and
``(ii) the expected levels of performance
of individuals participating in the program to
be offered by the eligible institution, with
respect to any indicators of performance
applicable under subsection (f).
``(M) In the case of an eligible institution
proposing a workforce development program that leads to
a recognized postsecondary credential described in
subsection (e)(2)(C)(i), the information described in
subclauses (I) through (VI) of subsection (e)(2)(C)(i).
``(N) How the eligible institution will keep
tuition and other costs of attendance (as described in
subsection (e)(3)(D)) low or affordable for students
who are participants.
``(O) How the eligible institution will work with
employers and industry partners in an eligible
partnership to design curricula and training programs
aligned to industry needs for the workforce development
programs.
``(3) Consideration of previous experience.--The Secretary
may not disqualify an eligible institution from receiving a
grant under this section solely because such institution lacks
previous experience in building partnerships, as described in
paragraph (2)(A).
``(4) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to eligible institutions that--
``(A) will use such a grant to serve--
``(i) individuals with barriers to
employment; or
``(ii) incumbent workers who need to gain
or improve foundational skills to enhance their
employability;
``(B) use competency-based assessments, such as the
covered assessment identified by the State in which the
eligible institution is located, to award academic
credit for prior learning for the program supported by
the grant; or
``(C) have, or will seek to have, the provider of
the career education program within the program
supported by the grant included on the list of eligible
providers of training services under section 122(d) for
the State in which the eligible institution is located.
``(e) Uses of Funds.--
``(1) Eligible partnership.--For the purpose of carrying
out the activities specified in paragraphs (2) and (3), an
eligible institution that receives a grant under this section
shall establish a partnership (including continuing an existing
partnership) that shall include one or more employers in an in-
demand industry sector or occupation and may include other
organizations, agencies, or institutions of higher education.
The eligible institution shall maintain such eligible
partnership for the duration of the grant period. The eligible
institution shall ensure that the partnership, in carrying out
its roles and responsibilities under subsection (d)(2)(C) for
the program under the grant--
``(A) targets one or more specific in-demand
industry sectors or occupations;
``(B) carries out activities that include
collaboration with the workforce development system;
``(C) serves adult and dislocated workers,
incumbent workers, and new entrants to the workforce;
``(D) uses an evidence-based program design that is
appropriate for the activities carried out by the
partnership;
``(E) incorporates work-based learning
opportunities, as defined in section 3 of the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20
U.S.C. 2302); and
``(F) incorporates, to the extent appropriate,
virtual service delivery to facilitate technology-
enabled learning.
``(2) Required activities.--An eligible institution that
receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds,
in consultation with the employers in the eligible partnership
described in paragraph (1), to--
``(A) establish, improve, or expand a high-quality,
evidence-based workforce development program, such as a
career pathway program, or work-based learning program
(including apprenticeship programs or pre-
apprenticeships);
``(B) provide career services to individuals
participating in the program funded with the grant to
facilitate retention and program completion, which may
include--
``(i) career navigation, coaching,
mentorship, and case management services,
including providing information and outreach to
individuals with barriers to employment to
encourage such individuals to participate in
the program funded with the grant; and
``(ii) providing access to course
materials, technological devices, required
equipment, and other supports necessary for
participation in and successful completion of
such program; and
``(C) make available, in a format that is open,
searchable, and easily comparable, information on--
``(i) curricula and recognized
postsecondary credentials offered through the
program funded with the grant, including any
curricula or credentials created or further
developed using such grant, which for each
recognized postsecondary credential shall
include--
``(I) the issuing entity of such
credential;
``(II) any third-party endorsement
of such credential;
``(III) the occupations for which
the credential prepares individuals;
``(IV) the skills and competencies
necessary to achieve to earn such
credential;
``(V) the level of mastery of such
skills and competencies (including how
mastery necessary to achieve to earn
such credential is assessed); and
``(VI) any transfer value or
stackability of the credential;
``(ii) any skills or competencies developed
by individuals who participate in such program
beyond the skills and competencies identified
as necessary to earn such credential; and
``(iii) related employment and earnings
outcomes on the primary indicators of
performance described in subclauses (I) through
(III) of section 116(b)(2)(A)(i).
``(3) Additional activities.--In addition to the activities
required under paragraph (2), an eligible institution that
receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds,
in consultation with the employers in the eligible partnership
described in paragraph (1), to carry out one or more of the
following activities:
``(A) Establish, improve, or expand for the
workforce development program carried out under the
grant--
``(i) articulation agreements (as defined
in section 486A(a) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1093a(a)));
``(ii) credit transfer agreements;
``(iii) a corequisite remediation program
that enables a student to receive remedial
education services while enrolled in a
postsecondary course rather than requiring the
student to receive remedial education before
enrolling in a such a course;
``(iv) a dual or concurrent enrollment