Career and Technical Education Access Act
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
Introduced
Summary
A new federal competitive grant program to expand career and technical education (CTE). It funds states to build or upgrade CTE high schools and regional career centers, create career-aligned coursework, and link training to local employer needs while adding a CTE Pell Grants program to help secondary students with financial need cover tuition and attendance costs.
Show full summary
- Students and families: Secondary students with financial need can get CTE Pell Grants for tuition or attendance costs tied to apprenticeships, dual enrollment, credential programs, or pre-apprenticeships; funds may be paid to the student or the program.
- State education agencies: States must apply with a 5-year CTE implementation plan and can receive grants that run up to 5 years. The federal share of project costs is set between 50% and 75% and nonfederal contributions can include in-kind support.
- Employers and underserved areas: Grants support employer and community college partnerships, internships, apprenticeships, multi-craft construction training, virtual or hybrid programs for rural areas, and purchases of equipment and educator training. Each grantee must complete a workforce needs assessment within 1 year of award and every 3 years after.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
CTE Pell grants for public high schoolers
This bill would create CTE Pell Grants for public high school students. Grants could help pay tuition or other costs for CTE classes, credential programs, apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and dual-enrollment technical courses. You would need to be enrolled in a public secondary school, plan to enroll in an eligible program, and show financial need. You could choose to have the money sent to your program or to you. The Secretary would set rules within 1 year and, where possible, model terms and awards on Federal Pell Grant rules.
State grants to expand career training
This bill would set up a competitive grant program for states within 1 year. Grants would typically last 5 years, with the federal share covering 50% to 75% of project costs; states could count in-kind support for their share. Money could fund CTE school buildings, updated classes, internships and apprenticeships, counseling, equipment, teacher training, and access to community college courses. States would have to meet performance benchmarks, report results each year, and do a labor market needs assessment within 1 year and every 3 years. If a state misses benchmarks for two years, it would need a corrective plan and could see funding reduced until results improve.
CTE credits would transfer to colleges
If enacted, students who complete qualifying CTE programs would have automatic options to transfer credits to participating colleges. This could save time and money by avoiding repeated classes. The bill would also define CTE high schools, regional career centers, and "opportunity youth" for use in the program. These rules would take effect upon enactment for grant eligibility and program use.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
WA • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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