Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a competitive grant program for youth mentoring under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to fund local mentoring that builds social-emotional skills and links young people to education and work. It also would require a Department of Labor evaluation of which mentoring approaches work best for academic and career outcomes.
Show full summary
- Families and youth: Would support mentoring that pairs youth with trained mentors for at least 1 year and focuses on social-emotional learning, postsecondary planning, and workforce readiness for underserved and at-risk youth.
- Community organizations, schools, and employers: Would award competitive grants to community-based organizations and partnerships for up to 3 years to hire staff, train and, if needed, compensate mentors, run inclusive activities, and connect youth to internships and credentials in local in-demand sectors.
- Federal oversight and learning: Grantees must report annual data on participation, academic and employment outcomes, and the Labor Department would complete a study within 3 years to evaluate program effectiveness.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grant application rules for nonprofits
If enacted, applicants would have to submit a needs assessment and program plan. Applications must include baseline data on outcomes and a budget. They must say how they will reach underserved youth and how many mentor matches they will make each year. Applicants must describe screening, background checks, and partner roles, and show youth engagement in program design.
Grantee reporting and privacy rules
If enacted, grantees would have to file yearly reports within 180 days after each grant year ends. Reports must show numbers and demographics of youth and mentors, school attendance and dropout data, arrest outcomes, employment and postsecondary enrollment, and validated social-emotional measures. Reports must protect student privacy under FERPA.
New mentoring grants for youth
If enacted, the bill would create competitive youth mentoring grants under WIOA. Grants could last up to 3 years. Community-based organizations and eligible partnerships could apply. Eligible youth would include in-school, out-of-school, and youth with listed risk indicators. The Secretary would give priority to programs in high-poverty, rural, or high-violence communities. Congress could appropriate "such sums as may be necessary" for fiscal years 2026–2030.
Stronger mentor screening and training
If enacted, mentors in funded programs would need written screening plans and criminal background checks. Programs must exclude mentors with child-safety related convictions during participation or within the prior 7 years. Mentors would receive training on trauma-informed care, youth engagement, cultural competency, social-emotional learning, and disability inclusion.
Technical assistance and reentry help
If enacted, the Secretary would refer grantees to the National Mentoring Resource Center for free training and technical help. The Secretary would coordinate with juvenile justice and education offices. The Secretary would also share information on reentry services for youth leaving correctional facilities and transition services for students with disabilities.
Labor Department study on mentoring
If enacted, the Secretary of Labor would study which mentoring programs work and how mentors affect learning and job readiness. The study must evaluate the new grant program and report to Congress within 3 years after enactment.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
IL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 1/28/2025
Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]
MA • D
Sponsored 1/28/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 1/28/2025
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/14/2025
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 4/10/2025
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4]
GA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2025
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2025
Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/24/2025
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
TN • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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