[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5759 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5759
To establish a career pathway grant program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 5, 2020
Ms. Adams (for herself, Mr. Delgado, and Ms. Omar) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and
Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a career pathway grant program.
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 ``Gateway to Careers Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. CAREER PATHWAYS GRANT PROGRAM.
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:
``PART BB--CAREER PATHWAY GRANT PROGRAM
``SEC. 899. CAREER PATHWAY GRANT PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) WIOA definitions.--The terms `area career and
technical education school', `career pathway', `in-demand
industry sector or occupation', `individual with a barrier to
employment', `industry or sector partnership', `integrated
education and training', `local board', `recognized
postsecondary credential', and `State board' have the meanings
given such terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
``(2) Career pathway partnership.--
``(A) In general.--The term `career pathway
partnership' means a partnership--
``(i) between an eligible institution, a
workforce development partner described in
subparagraph (B), and an education partner
described in subparagraph (C);
``(ii) evidenced by a formal agreement
between partners; and
``(iii) that is intended to support the
development and implementation of a career
pathway program.
``(B) Workforce development partner.--A workforce
development partner described in subparagraph (A) means
one or more of the following:
``(i) A local board or a State board.
``(ii) An industry association or other
representative of multiple employers in the
target industry, including an industry or
sector partnership.
``(iii) A community-based organization with
experience in providing employment, education,
or support services relevant to the career
pathway and student populations receiving
services under the grant under this section.
``(C) Education partner.--An education partner
described in subparagraph (A) means one or more of the
following:
``(i) A local educational agency, as
defined under section 8101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801).
``(ii) An eligible provider, as defined
under section 203 of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3272).
``(iii) An institution of higher education,
as defined in section 101, or a postsecondary
vocational institution, as defined in section
102(c).
``(3) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible
institution' means--
``(A) a public institution of higher education at
which the highest degree that is predominantly awarded
to students is an associate's degree, including 2-year
Tribal Colleges or Universities under section 316 of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c) and
public 2-year State institutions of higher education;
``(B) an area career and technical education school
that provides education at the postsecondary level; or
``(C) a consortium of institutions described in
subparagraph (A) or (B).
``(4) Evidence-based.--The term `evidence-based' means an
activity, strategy, or intervention that--
``(A) demonstrates a statistically significant
effect on improving student outcomes or other relevant
outcomes based on--
``(i) strong evidence from not less than 1
well-designed and well-implemented experimental
study;
``(ii) moderate evidence from not less than
1 well-designed and well-implemented quasi-
experimental study; or
``(iii) promising evidence from not less
than 1 well-designed and well-implemented
correlational study with statistical controls
for selection bias;
``(B) demonstrates a rationale based on high
quality research finding or positive evaluation that
such activity, strategy, or intervention is likely to
improve student outcomes or other relevant outcomes;
and
``(C) includes ongoing efforts to examine the
effects of such activity, strategy, or intervention.
``(5) Measurable skill gains.--The term `measurable skill
gains' has the meaning given the term in section
361.155(a)(1)(v) of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations (or
successor regulations).
``(6) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Education.
``(b) Program Established.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Secretary of Labor, shall establish a career pathway grant program,
through which the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis,
to eligible institutions in order to enable eligible institutions to
carry out the activities described in subsection (e).
``(c) Application.--An eligible institution desiring to receive a
grant under this section shall submit an application, at such time and
in such manner as the Secretary may require, that includes the
following information:
``(1) A description of the career pathway partnership,
including the roles and responsibilities of each partner.
``(2) A description of the career pathway program that will
be supported under the grant, including a description of the
in-demand industry sectors or occupations that will be targeted
and the recognized postsecondary credentials to be awarded.
``(3) A description of how the career pathway program
supported under the grant are aligned and coordinated with
other employment, education, and support services offered in
the geographic area served under the grant.
``(4) A description of the student populations that will be
served under the grant, including an analysis of any barriers
to postsecondary access and completion that such populations
face, and an analysis of how the services to be provided under
the grant will address those barriers.
``(5) A description of the activities and services to be
provided under this grant, consistent with subsection (e).
``(6) A description of the performance outcomes that the
eligible institution plans to achieve, including a description
of how the eligible institution will evaluate and measure
student progress and measurable skill gains along a career
pathway.
``(7) Such other information as the Secretary may require.
``(d) Priority in Awarding Grants.--The Secretary shall award
grants under this part in a manner that--
``(1) supports geographic diversity among grantees;
``(2) gives priority to eligible institutions that seek to
serve individuals with a barrier to employment or individuals
with a barrier to postsecondary education; and
``(3) gives priority to eligible institutions that will use
grant funds for evidence-based activities.
``(e) Use of Funds.--
``(1) Developing and implementing career pathway
programs.--An eligible institution receiving a grant under this
section shall use grant funds to carry out activities that
support the development and implementation of career pathway
programs, which shall include one or more of the following:
``(A) The planning and implementation of agreements
between the eligible institution and other partners in
the career pathway partnership to support seamless
transitions between elements of the career pathway
program offered by different partners, as appropriate.
``(B) The development and expansion of new or
existing programs at the eligible institution that
utilize integrated education and training strategies,
and support multiple entry and exit points for working
learners, which may include--
``(i) dual-enrollment approaches for
secondary students or disconnected youth
seeking to participate in a career pathway
program; and
``(ii) strategies that help working
students and other nontraditional and adult
student populations access skills and
recognized postsecondary credentials.
``(C) The provision of evidence-based professional
development for faculty and other staff at the eligible
institution or at partner organizations described under
subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (a)(2) on the
development and implementation of career pathways.
``(D) The acquisition of equipment necessary to
support the delivery of career pathway programs
supported through a grant under this section.
``(E) Any other evidence-based activities
identified by the eligible institution or partners as
necessary to support the development or implementation
of career pathway programs, as long as such activities
are clearly outlined in the grant application.
``(2) Student support services.--In addition to the
activities described in paragraph (1), an eligible institution
receiving a grant under this section shall use grant funds to
provide student support services to students engaged in career
pathway programs, which shall include--
``(A) the provision of direct support services such
as childcare, transportation, mental health and
substance use disorder treatment, assistance in
obtaining health insurance coverage, and assistance in
accessing the supplemental nutrition assistance program
established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the special supplemental
nutrition program for women, infants, and children
established by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of
1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), housing, and other benefits, as
appropriate;
``(B) offering career pathway navigation and case
management services, including providing information
and outreach to target populations to encourage
individuals to take part in programs and service
offerings; and
``(C) the provision of emergency grants to help
students facing financial hardships that may impact
enrollment or completion of an element of a career
pathway program.
``(f) Duration of Award.--A grant under this section shall be for a
period of not more than 4 years. An eligible institution may apply for
subsequent grants after the completion of a grant period.
``(g) Reports.--
``(1) Report to the secretary.--Each eligible institution
receiving a grant under this section shall submit a report to
the Secretary, on an annual basis, describing--
``(A) the activities provided under the grant,
including activities carried out directly by the
eligible institution and activities carried out by
partner organizations;
``(B) the students receiving services under the
grant, disaggregated by age, race or ethnicity, gender,
barriers to employment, and income; and
``(C) indicators of performance for students
receiving services through a career pathway program
carried out through a grant under this part,
disaggregated by participant type as described in
paragraph (2), including, at a minimum--
``(i) the percentage of program
participants who are in unsubsidized employment
prior to enrollment in the career pathway
program;
``(ii) the percentage of program
participants who are in unsubsidized employment
during the second quarter after exit from the
program;
``(iii) the percentage of program
participants who are in unsubsidized employment
during the fourth quarter after exit from the
program;
``(iv) the median earnings of program
participants who are in unsubsidized employment
prior to enrollment in the career pathway
program;
``(v) the median earnings of program
participants who are in unsubsidized employment
during the second quarter after exit from the
program;
``(vi) the percentage of program
participants who obtain a recognized
postsecondary credential, or a secondary school
diploma or its recognized equivalent, during
participation in or within 1 year after exit
from the program;
``(vii) the percentage of program
participants who, during a program year, are in
an education or training program that leads to
a recognized postsecondary credential or
employment and who are achieving measurable
skill gains toward such a credential or
employment; and
``(viii) the percentage of program
participants receiving support services,
disaggregated by type of service.
``(2) Report to congress.--The Secretary shall submit a
report to Congress, on a biennial basis, containing a summary
of the information described in paragraph (1).
``(h) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall reserve not less than 1
percent and not more than 3 percent of the funds made available under
subsection (i) for each fiscal year to--
``(1) conduct a rigorous, independent evaluation of the
activities funded under this section; and
``(2) disseminate and promote the utilization of evidence-
based practices related to career pathway programs for
postsecondary students.
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out the activities described in this section,
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020 and for each
subsequent fiscal year thereafter.''.
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