[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3742 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3742
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a community
college and career training grant program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 6, 2024
Mr. Kaine (for himself and Mr. Young) 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 establish a community
college and career training 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 ``Assisting Community Colleges in
Educating Skilled Students to Careers Act of 2024'' or the ``ACCESS Act
of 2024''.
SEC. 2. COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND CAREER TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.
Part C of title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1161c et seq.) is amended to read as follows:
``PART C--COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND CAREER TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM
``SEC. 803. COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND CAREER TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.
``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section include the
following:
``(1) To increase the number of students who attain
postsecondary credentials in high-skill, high-wage, or in-
demand industry sectors or occupations.
``(2) To increase the degree to which postsecondary
education meets the skill needs of employers in high-skill,
high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations.
``(3) To assist the Nation's community colleges and
technical colleges, through grants to eligible institutions,
consortia of eligible institutions, and States, to develop,
improve, and scale evidence-based strategies and delivery
structures and that best meet the skill needs of students and
employers.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) WIOA definitions.--The terms `career pathway',
`individual with a barrier to employment', `industry or sector
partnership', `integrated education and training', `local
board', `State board', `in-demand industry sector or
occupation', and `recognized postsecondary credential' have the
meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
``(2) Apprenticeship program.--The term `apprenticeship
program' means a program 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.).
``(3) Community college partnership.--The term `community
college partnership' means a partnership of private and public
sector entities which--
``(A) shall include a community college, a local or
regional employer representing an in-demand industry
sector or occupation, and a State board or local board;
and
``(B) may include an industry or sector
partnership, a local educational agency, an entity with
experience in providing employment, education, or
support services relevant to student populations
receiving services under this section (such as a
community-based organization), a provider of adult
education (as defined in section 203 of the Adult
Education and Family Literacy Act), or an institution
of higher education.
``(4) Consortium of eligible institutions.--The term
`consortium of eligible institutions' means a consortium that
includes 3 or more eligible institutions.
``(5) Education and career training program.--The term
`education and career training program' means--
``(A) a career pathway program that leads to a
recognized postsecondary credential; or
``(B) a program that utilizes integrated education
and training strategies and leads to a recognized
postsecondary credential.
``(6) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible
institution' means a public institution of higher education at
which the highest degree that is predominantly awarded to
students is an associate degree, including a 2-year Tribal
College or University (as defined in section 316).
``(7) State.--The term `State' means each of the 50 States,
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.
``(8) Work-based learning.--The term `work-based learning'
means sustained interactions with industry or community
professionals in real workplace settings, to the extent
practicable, or simulated environments at an eligible
institution that foster in-depth, firsthand engagement with the
tasks required in a given career field, that are aligned to
curriculum and instruction.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations and Administrative
Provisions.--
``(1) Grants to eligible institutions and consortia of
eligible institutions.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out subsection (d), such sums as may be necessary for
fiscal year 2025 and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.
``(2) Grants to states.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out subsection (e), such sums as may be
necessary for fiscal year 2025 and each of the 5 succeeding
fiscal years.
``(3) National activities.--For each fiscal year, the
Secretary shall reserve 5 percent of the amount appropriated to
carry out subsection (d) and 5 percent of the amount
appropriated to carry out subsection (e) for the national
activities and administrative costs described in subsection
(g).
``(4) Limitations.--An eligible institution, consortium of
eligible institutions, or State may not receive more than one
grant under this section as a primary applicant.
``(5) Duration.--Each grant awarded under this section
shall be for a period of not more than 5 years.
``(6) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to applicants based on the extent
to which the applicant--
``(A) leverages resources other than the funds
provided under this section to support the activities
carried out under this section; and
``(B) can continue to sustain or expand such
activities after the expiration of the grant.
``(d) Grants to Eligible Institutions and Consortia of Eligible
Institutions.--
``(1) In general.--
``(A) Authorization.--From funds authorized under
subsection (c)(1) and not reserved under subsection
(c)(3), the Secretary shall award, on a competitive
basis, grants of not more than $1,500,000 to eligible
institutions, and not more than $5,000,000 to consortia
of eligible institutions, to assist such institutions
in establishing and scaling education and career
training programs consistent with the provisions of
this subsection.
``(B) Priority.--In awarding grants under this
subsection, the Secretary shall give priority, in
addition to the priorities specified in subsection
(c)(6), to applicants that--
``(i) will serve individuals with barriers
to employment, veterans, spouses of members of
the Armed Forces, Native American Indians,
Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, or incumbent
workers who are low-skilled and who need to
increase their employability skills;
``(ii) will serve individuals from a major
racial or ethnic group or gender with--
``(I) lower than average
educational attainment in the State; or
``(II) lower than average
employment in the in-demand industry
sector or occupation;
``(iii) will serve areas with high
unemployment rates or high levels of poverty,
including rural areas; or
``(iv) will increase access to education
and career training programs that meet the
needs of regional employers in in-demand
industry sectors or occupations.
``(2) Application.--An eligible institution or consortium
of eligible institutions seeking a grant under this subsection
shall submit an application containing a grant proposal for an
education and career training program to the Secretary at such
time and containing such information as the Secretary
determines is required, including a detailed description of--
``(A) the community college partnership, including
the roles and responsibilities of each partner;
``(B) the education and career training programs
that will be supported under the grant, including a
description of high-skill, high-wage or in-demand
industry sectors or occupations that will be targeted
and the recognized postsecondary credentials to be
awarded;
``(C) quantitative data and evidence that
demonstrates the extent to which the program supported
under the grant will meet the skilled worker needs of
employers in the geographic area served by the grant;
``(D) the extent to which the education and career
training programs described in the grant proposal align
with a statewide or regional workforce development
strategy, including those established under the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and the Carl
D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006;
``(E) the extent to which the eligible institution,
or consortium, can leverage additional resources and
the future sustainability of the education and career
training programs supported under the grant;
``(F) how the education and career training
programs offered under the grant will include evidence-
based practices;
``(G) the student populations that will be served
under the grant, including an analysis of any barriers
to employment or barriers to postsecondary education
that such populations face and an analysis of how the
services to be provided under the grant will address
those barriers;
``(H) any previous experience of the eligible
institution, or consortium, in providing programs, the
absence of which shall not automatically disqualify the
applicant from receiving a grant under this section;
``(I) the extent to which the eligible institution,
or consortium, plan to enroll and support students who
are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant under
subpart 1 of part A of title IV; and
``(J) other information the Secretary may require
of the eligible institution or consortium.
``(3) Use of funds.--
``(A) Support and emergency services.--Not less
than 25 percent of the grant funds awarded to an
eligible institution or a consortium of eligible
institutions under this subsection shall be used to
carry out student support services, which may include
the following:
``(i) 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.
``(ii) Connecting students to State or
Federal means-tested benefits programs,
including means-tested Federal benefits
programs, as defined in section 479.
``(iii) The provision of direct financial
assistance to help students facing financial
hardships that may impact enrollment in or
completion of an education and career training
program, or a work-based learning program.
``(iv) Navigation and case management
services, including providing information and
outreach to target populations to take part in
education and career training programs, or
work-based learning programs.
``(B) Required program activities.--Not less than
35 percent of the grant funds awarded to an eligible
institution or a consortium of eligible institutions
under this subsection shall be used to carry out 2 or
more of the following activities:
``(i) Developing and expanding education
and career training programs through a
community college partnership for high-skill,
high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors and
occupations, which may include--
``(I) apprenticeship programs;
``(II) work-based learning
opportunities; and
``(III) paid internships.
``(ii) Establishing policies and processes
for assessing and awarding course credit for
prior learning.
``(iii) Developing and expanding programs
that accelerate learning and recognized
postsecondary credential attainment, including
competency-based education, corequisite
remediation, and other strategies for
acceleration.
``(iv) Developing and expanding efficient
career pathways to credentials, including the
development of stackable credentials and
integrated education and training strategies.
``(v) Developing and expanding dual or
concurrent enrollment programs or early college
high school programs for secondary students or
disconnected youth.
``(vi) Planning and implementing formalized
agreements between the eligible institution or
consortium and other partners in the community
college partnership.
``(vii) Working with local boards on the
use of labor market information for making
program decisions.
``(viii) Engaging employers in the
development of programs and curricula.
``(ix) Acquiring equipment necessary to
support education and career training
activities permitted under this section.
``(x) Carrying out any other activities
identified by the eligible institution or
consortium as necessary to increase
institutional capacity, as long as such
activities are clearly outlined in the
application and approved by the Secretary.
``(4) Maximum amount for equipment.--An eligible
institution or consortium of eligible institutions that
receives a grant under this subsection may use not more than 30
percent of the grant funds under this subsection to carry out
paragraph (3)(B)(ix).
``(e) Grants to States.--
``(1) In general.--
``(A) Authorization.--From funds authorized under
subsection (c)(2) and not reserved under subsection
(c)(3), the Secretary shall award grants to States, on
a competitive basis, to assist in establishing
statewide systemic reforms that result in student
success and system relevance and in supporting and
scaling education and career training programs,
consistent with the provisions of this subsection.
``(B) Grant amounts.--The Secretary shall make
grants to eligible States of not less than $2,500,000
and not more than $10,000,000 for a 4-year grant
period.
``(C) Priority.--In awarding grants under this
subsection, the Secretary shall give priority, in
addition to the priorities specified in subsection
(c)(6), to applicants that--
``(i) will serve individuals with barriers
to employment, veterans, spouses of members of
the Armed Forces, or incumbent workers who need
to increase their employability skills;
``(ii) will serve areas with high
unemployment rates or high levels of poverty,
including rural areas, including by awarding
subgrants under paragraph (3)(B); and
``(iii) will increase access to education
and career training programs that meet the
needs of regional employers in in-demand
industry sectors or occupations.
``(2) State application.--To receive a grant under this
subsection, a State shall submit an application to the
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may reasonably require. Such
application shall be developed in consultation with the State
board. At a minimum, each State application shall include--
``(A) a description of how the State is
implementing or has a plan to implement--
``(i) a statewide longitudinal data system
built upon student outcome data, including
labor market outcomes by institution, program,
and subpopulation of interest, with information
made available to the public in easy-to-
understand formats;
``(ii) statewide policies to develop and
expand articulation agreements and policies
that guarantee transfers between institutions,
including through common course numbering and
use of a general core curriculum;
``(iii) statewide policies to support the
development of articulation agreements between
non-credit and credit-bearing courses at State
postsecondary education institutions;
``(iv) statewide policies to support the
expansion of high-quality dual or concurrent
enrollment programs and early college high
school programs;
``(v) statewide policies to support the
expansion of education and career training
programs in in-demand industry sectors or
occupations;
``(vi) statewide policies to support the
expansion of career pathway programs, including
the development of stackable credentials;
``(vii) statewide policies to support the
expansion of work-based learning opportunities,
including apprenticeship programs;
``(viii) statewide policies to increase
educational attainment among major racial and
ethnic groups with below average educational
attainment in the State;
``(ix) statewide policies that encourage
the development and implementation of
accelerated learning strategies, including
competency-based education, credit for prior
learning, and other strategies for supporting
students' pathways to credential attainment;
and
``(x) statewide policies to increase
alignment between workforce, postsecondary,
poverty alleviation, and economic development
systems in the State; and
``(B) a description of the State's plan to--
``(i) use funds received under this
subsection and the State's leveraged funds to
carry out statewide activities described in the
State's application under subparagraph (A);
``(ii) support community college
partnerships in implementing or scaling the
activities described in and consistent with the
requirements of subsection (d);
``(iii) provide technical assistance and
support to subgrantees;
``(iv) align with statewide or regional
workforce development strategies in place in
the geographic area served under the grant,
including those established under the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act and the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of
2006;
``(v) measure the performance of
subgrantees, including a description of how the
State will work with subgrantees to track and
report on the primary indicators of performance
described under section 116(b)(2)(A)(i) of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; and
``(vi) enroll and support students who are
eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant under
subpart 1 of part A of title IV.
``(3) State uses of funds.--
``(A) Statewide activities.--A State that receives
a grant under this subsection may reserve not more than
20 percent of the grant funds for statewide activities
described paragraph (2)(A) that support the purposes of
the grant, which may include technical assistance,
professional development, activities to scale best
practices, and other activities required to carry out
the functions described under paragraph (2)(A).
``(B) Subgrants for community college
partnerships.--A State that receives a grant under this
subsection shall use not less than 80 percent of the
grant funds to award subgrants to eligible community
college partnerships to support the implementation and
scaling of activities described under subsection (d)(3)
that are consistent with the requirements of subsection
(d).
``(f) Reporting Requirements.--
``(1) Reports.--Each eligible institution, consortium of
eligible institutions, or State receiving a grant under this
section shall report to the Secretary annually.
``(2) Contents.--The report shall include--
``(A) the activities carried out with grant funds,
including activities carried out directly by the
eligible institution, consortium, or State and
activities carried out by any partner organizations;
``(B) data on the population served with grant
funds, including on indicators of performance, as
described in section 116(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act; and
``(C) resources leveraged by the eligible
institution, consortium, or State to support activities
under this section.
``(g) National Activities.--
``(1) National evaluations.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 5 months after
the data of enactment of the Assisting Community
Colleges in Educating Skilled Students to Careers Act
of 2024, the Secretary shall seek to enter into a
contract with an independent third party entity to
perform an evaluation of the grants awarded under this
section. Such evaluation shall apply rigorous
procedures to obtain valid and reliable data concerning
the effect of strategies and delivery structures
implemented through education and career training
programs on student outcomes, including labor market
outcomes.
``(B) Combined results.--Lessons learned through
this evaluation--
``(i) shall be combined with lessons
learned through the implementation of the Trade
Adjustment Assistance Community College and
Career Training Grant Program, as authorized
under chapter 4 of title II of the Trade Act of
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2371 et seq.), and the
Strengthening Community Colleges Training
Grants program, as authorized under section
169(c) of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3224(c)); and
``(ii) shall be reported to Congress as
described in paragraph (3).
``(2) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall provide
technical assistance to States and to eligible institutions,
applying lessons learned from earlier grants awarded through
the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career
Training Grant Program, as authorized under chapter 4 of title
II of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2371 et seq.), and from
evidence gained through the Strengthening Community Colleges
Training Grants program, as authorized under section 169(c) of
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3224(c)).
``(3) Annual report.--The Secretary shall submit an annual
report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor
of the House of Representatives--
``(A) describing each grant awarded under this
section during the preceding fiscal year;
``(B) assessing the impact of each award of a grant
under this section in a fiscal year preceding the
fiscal year referred to in subparagraph (A) on the
population served by the grant; and
``(C) providing data relating to program
performance and student outcomes, disaggregated by
major racial and ethnic groups and by gender.
``(4) Administrative costs.--Not more than 5 percent of the
amounts made available under subsection (c)(3) may be used by
the Secretary for Federal administration of the program under
this section.''.
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