Title 29 › Chapter 32— WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY › Subchapter I— WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES › Part B— Workforce Investment Activities and Providers › Subpart 2— youth workforce investment activities › § 3164
Money must be used to help young people get education, training, and jobs. To take part, a person must be either an out-of-school youth or an in-school youth when eligibility is decided. Out-of-school youth are ages 16 to 24, not attending school, and have one or more risk factors such as being a dropout, recently not attending while of compulsory school age, low-income and lacking basic skills or learning English, involved with the justice system, homeless or in foster care, pregnant or parenting, disabled, or low-income and needing extra help. In-school youth are ages 14 to 21 (older if a student with a disability under State law), must be low-income, in school, and have one or more risks like low basic skills, learning English, being an offender, homeless or in foster care, pregnant or parenting, disabled, or needing extra help. “Low-income” also includes youth who live in high-poverty areas. No more than 5% of people served in a local area can be certain non-low-income youth who would otherwise qualify, and no more than 5% of in-school youth served can be eligible only because they need extra help. Most of the money must go to out-of-school youth. At least 75% of state and local funds must be used for out-of-school youth, but a State with a minimum allotment can lower that to not less than 50% for a local area if it analyzes the need and gets federal approval. Governors must reserve funds for statewide activities like evaluations, lists of providers, helping local areas coordinate, fiscal systems, monitoring, and extra support for high-need areas; these reserves can also fund research, new program models, career services, financial literacy, and technical help. No more than 5% of a State’s allotment can pay for administration. Local areas must assess each young person, make a service plan, and provide services that help get a diploma or credential, prepare for college or work, link classroom and job training, and connect youth with employers. Required program elements include things like tutoring and dropout recovery, paid or unpaid work experience, occupational training tied to in-demand jobs, concurrent education and training, leadership activities, supportive services, at least 12 months of mentoring and at least 12 months of follow-up services, counseling, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and help moving to postsecondary education. At least 20% of local funds must pay for work experiences. Providers must give information and referrals, involve parents and the community, not take over school curricula, and must not use funds to replace regular school for students who are not dropouts. Young people who finish the programs should be able to volunteer as mentors or tutors.
Full Legal Text
Labor — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
29 U.S.C. § 3164
Title 29 — Labor
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60