S3990-118

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Opening Doors for Youth Act of 2024.

3. Availability of funds Of the amount available under section 2, the Secretary of Labor shall reserve— not more than 5 percent to carry out innovation and learning activities under section 9; not more than 5 percent for the costs of Federal administration of this Act; and not more than 2 percent to carry out evaluations under section 10. Of the amount made available under section 2 and not reserved under subsection (a), the Secretary of Labor shall use— 30 percent of such amount to carry out section 4; 35 percent of such amount to carry out section 5; and 35 percent of such amount to carry out section 6.

4. Summer employment opportunities for youth From the amount available under section 3(b)(1), the Secretary of Labor shall, for the purpose of carrying out summer employment programs under this section— after making the reservations described in paragraphs (2) and (3), make an allotment from the remainder of such amount in accordance with section 127(b)(1)(C)(ii) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3162(b)(1)(C)(ii)) to each State that meets the requirements of section 102 or 103 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 3112; 3113); reserve not more than one-quarter of 1 percent of such amount to provide assistance to the outlying areas; and reserve not more than 1½ percent of such amount to make grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Alaska Native entities, Indian-controlled organizations serving Indians, or Native Hawaiian organizations, to carry out the activities described in subsection (d)(2). The Governor of a State, in accordance with the State plan developed under section 102 or 103 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3112; 3113), shall allocate the amount that is allotted to the State under subsection (a)(1) to local areas meeting the requirements under subsection (c) in accordance with the allocation described in section 128(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3163(b)(2)(A)(i)) for the purpose of developing and expanding summer employment programs under this section. The Governor may, after consultation with the State board, reallocate to eligible local areas within the State amounts that are made available to local areas from allocations made under this section (referred to in this paragraph as a local allocation) and that are available for reallocation in accordance with this paragraph. The amount available for reallocation for a program year is equal to the amount by which the unobligated balance of the local allocation, at the end of the program year prior to the program year for which the determination under this paragraph is made, exceeds 20 percent of such allocation for the prior program year. In making reallocations to eligible local areas of amounts available pursuant to subparagraph (B) for a program year, the Governor shall allocate to each eligible local area within the State an amount based on the relative amount of the local allocation for the program year for which the determination is made, as compared to the total amount of the local allocations for all eligible local areas in the State for such program year. For purposes of this paragraph, the term eligible local area means a local area that meets the requirements under subsection (c) and does not have an amount available for reallocation under subparagraph (B) for the program year for which the determination under such subparagraph is made. Of the amount allocated to a local area under paragraph (1)— not more than 10 percent of such amount may be used for the administrative costs of carrying out a summer employment program under this section, including costs for participating in regional and national opportunities for in-person or virtual peer learning under section 9; and not less than 5 percent of such amount shall be used to provide direct financial assistance to eligible youth through grants to support their financial needs to enter, remain enrolled in, and complete the program, such as support for supplies, transportation, child care, and housing. In order for a local area to be eligible for funds under this section, the local board of the local area shall develop and submit to the Governor in accordance with paragraph (2) a 4-year plan for the summer employment program. Such plan shall, at a minimum— not conflict with the local plan submitted by the local board under section 108 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3123), as determined by the Governor; and contain the contents required under paragraph (3). A plan required under this subsection shall be submitted by the local board to the Governor for the local area involved at such time and in such manner as the Governor may reasonably require. If a local area is seeking funds under this section and section 5, the plan required under this subsection may be submitted in combination with a plan under section 5, in lieu of the local area submitting 2 separate plans. At a minimum, each plan required under this subsection shall include— a description of how the local area will carry out the activities described in subsection (d) for each program year; a description of how the local area will recruit eligible youth to participate in the summer employment program, including how the local area will prioritize recruitment of individuals with barriers to employment; the number of eligible youth expected to participate in the program each program year; a description of the services, including supportive services, that the program is expected to provide to eligible youth, including how the local area will partner with community-based organizations to provide such services; performance accountability goals, as measured on the primary indicators of performance described in subsection (e)(1); an assurance that the program will be aligned with the youth workforce investment activities provided by the local area under chapter 2 of subtitle B of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3161 et seq.), and to the extent practicable, the career exploration, information, and guidance activities provided in such local area in accordance with section 134(b)(3) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2354(b)(3)); an assurance that the local area will adhere to the labor standards and other requirements and restrictions described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 7; a description of the alignment of the program to work-based learning opportunities, or plans to create work-based learning opportunities, and a description of whether the program awards academic credit towards a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent, or a recognized postsecondary credential, as applicable; a description of programs being offered that align with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations; a written commitment and support from the corresponding mayors or county executives to support the execution of the program as described in the plan; and any other information that the Governor may reasonably require. A local area that receives an allocation under this section shall use such allocation for development activities or expansion activities with respect to a summer employment program in accordance with this subsection. In the case of a local area that, at the beginning of the first program year covered by the local plan submitted under subsection (c), is not carrying out a summer employment program described in paragraph (4), the local board of such local area— shall use the amount allocated under this section to such local area to— plan, develop, and carry out a summer employment program that is described in and meets each requirement of paragraph (4), and that to the extent practicable is evidence-based; engage or establish industry or sector partnerships to determine local summer job needs to inform the establishment of such program; and conduct outreach to eligible youth and employers; and may— use such amount to develop technology infrastructure, including data and management systems, to support such program; and use not more than 25 percent of such amount to subsidize not more than 100 percent of the wages of each eligible youth participating in the program. In the case of a local area that, at the beginning of the first program year covered by the local plan submitted under subsection (c), is carrying out a summer employment program described in paragraph (4), the local board of such local area— shall use the amount allocated under this section to such local area to— increase the number of summer employment opportunities offered through such program, including unsubsidized or partly subsidized opportunities and opportunities in the private sector, that to the extent practicable are evidence-based; conduct outreach to eligible youth and employers; and subsidize not more than 100 percent of the wages of each eligible youth participating in the program; and may use such amount to enhance the activities required under paragraph (4)(B). A summer employment program described in this paragraph is a program that meets each of the following requirements: Each eligible youth participating in the program is matched with an appropriate employer, based on factors including the needs of the employer and the age, skill, and informed aspirations of the eligible youth, for a high-quality summer employment opportunity, which may not— be less than 4 weeks; or pay less than the greater of the applicable Federal, State, or local minimum wage. The program includes each of the following program elements: Work readiness training and educational programs for eligible youth to enhance their summer employment opportunities, including programs with digital literacy and online work readiness opportunities, as appropriate, and support with obtaining documentation needed for employment, such as identification or a license. Coaching and mentoring services for eligible youth participating in the summer employment program to enhance their summer employment opportunities and encourage completion of such opportunities through the program, which services may be provided prior to, during, or after the summer employment program. Coaching and mentoring services for employers on how to successfully employ each eligible youth participating in the program in meaningful work, including on providing a safe work and training environment for all participants, regardless of race, color, disability, age, religion, national origin, political affiliation, belief, marital status, sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition, or status as a parent. Career exploration, career counseling, career planning, and postsecondary education planning services for eligible youth participating in the program. High-quality financial literacy education for eligible youth participating in the program to support their financial literacy as described in section 129(b)(2)(D) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164(b)(2)(D)), and including education on the use of credit, financing higher education, savings, and access to safe and affordable banking accounts with consumer protections. Provision of supportive services to eligible youth, or connection of such youth to supportive services provided by another entity, to enable their participation in the program, which may include food and nutrition services, and health and mental health care supports. Follow-up services for not less than 12 months after the completion of participation, as appropriate. Integration of services provided by the program with year-round employment programs, youth development programs, secondary school programs, career pathways, career and technical education programs, youth workforce investment activities provided under chapter 2 of subtitle B of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3161 et seq.), work-based learning, and skills training programs funded by the State or Federal Government, as applicable. Connection of eligible youth participating in the program to providers of youth services, adult employment and training activities, vocational rehabilitation services, adult education and literacy activities under title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3271 et seq.), career pathways, postsecondary education, or skills training programs funded by the State or Federal Government, as applicable for each eligible youth. Each local board shall ensure that each participant of a summer employment program receiving assistance under this section shall be provided— information on the full array of applicable or appropriate services that are available through the local board or other eligible providers or one-stop partners, including those providers or partners receiving funds under this Act; and referral to appropriate training and educational programs that have the capacity to serve the participant either on a concurrent or sequential basis. Each local board shall, in a manner consistent with section 129(c)(3)(B) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164(c)(3)(B)), ensure that eligible youth who do not meet employment requirements for the summer employment program shall be referred for further assessment, as necessary, and referred to appropriate programs in accordance with clause (i) to meet the basic skills and training needs for such employment. In carrying out a summer employment program receiving assistance under this section, a local board shall— give priority to summer employment opportunities offered under such program— in existing or emerging high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations; or that meet community needs in the public, private, or nonprofit sector; and for any program year, use not less than 75 percent of the amount allocated under this section to provide summer employment opportunities under such program for eligible youth that are in-school youth. For each local area carrying out a summer employment program funded under this section, the primary indicators of performance, with respect to each such program, shall include— the performance metrics described in clause (i)(V), and subparagraphs (I) and (II) of clause (ii), of section 116(b)(2)(A) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A)); the percentage of program participants completing the program; and the percentage of program participants having participated in work-based learning. If a local area fails, for any program year, to meet a performance accountability goal identified in its local plan under subsection (c)(3)(E), with respect to a summer employment program receiving assistance under this section, the Governor, or, upon request by the Governor, the Secretary of Labor, shall provide the local area with technical assistance, which may include assistance in the development of a performance improvement plan for such summer employment program. In a case in which such local area fails to meet such performance accountability goal with respect to the program for a third consecutive year or fails to implement the improvement plan, the Governor shall take corrective actions, which may include, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, the withholding from the local area of all, or a portion, of the allocation under this section. Such withheld funds shall be used to provide summer employment activities in such local area under alternative arrangements that are consistent with the program elements described in subsection (d)(4)(B), with the commitment described in subsection (c)(3)(J). Any funds made available for a local area for a summer employment program under this section shall supplement and not supplant other State or local public funds expended for summer employment programs or other youth activities funded under section 129 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164). For each year for which a local area receives an allocation under this section to carry out a summer employment program, the local board shall submit to the Secretary of Labor and the Governor a report containing— the number of eligible youth participating in the program, disaggregated by status as in-school youth or out-of-school youth; the number of eligible youth participating in the program who complete a summer employment opportunity through the program; the expenditures made from the allocation under this section, including expenditures made to provide eligible youth participating in such program with supportive services; a description of how the local area has used the allocation under this section to develop or expand a summer employment program, including a description of program activities and services provided to eligible youth, including supportive services provided and the number of eligible youth participating in such program and accessing such services; for each youth participant with a subsidized wage, the amount and information describing the source of the subsidy, including the amount of the subsidy covered by grant funds under this section; information specifying the levels of performance achieved with respect to the primary indicators of performance described in subsection (e)(1) for the program; the average number of hours and weeks worked and the average amount of wages earned by eligible youth participating in the program; the average number of hours spent on— carrying out recruitment and retention strategies; and providing support for participating youth, such as career planning, and time management and financial literacy training; the percent of eligible youth participating in the program that are placed in an employment opportunity in the nonprofit sector; the percent placed in an employment opportunity in the public sector; and the percent placed in an employment opportunity in the private sector; and any other information that the Secretary of Labor determines to be necessary to monitor the effectiveness of the summer employment program. The information required to be reported under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (G) of paragraph (1) shall be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, sex, age, and status in each subpopulation described in subclauses (I) through (VI) of section 129(a)(1)(B)(iii) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164(a)(1)(B)(iii)). For the purposes of this section, the term eligible youth means an individual who, at the time the eligibility determination is made, is an out-of-school youth or an in-school youth.

5. Year-round employment opportunities for youth From the amount available under section 3(b)(2), the Secretary of Labor shall, for the purpose of carrying out year-round employment programs under this section— after making the reservation described in paragraph (2), make an allotment from the remainder of such amount in accordance with section 127(b)(1)(C)(ii) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3162(b)(1)(C)(ii)) to each State that meets the requirements of section 102 or 103 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 3112; 3113); and reserve not more than one-quarter of 1 percent of such amount to provide assistance to the outlying areas. The Governor of a State, in accordance with the State plan developed under section 102 or 103 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3112; 3113), shall allocate the amount that is allotted to the State under subsection (a)(1) to local areas meeting the requirements under subsection (c) in accordance with the allocation described in section 128(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3163(b)(2)(A)(i)) for the purpose of developing and expanding year-round employment programs under this section. The Governor may, after consultation with the State board, reallocate to eligible local areas within the State amounts that are made available to local areas from allocations made under this section (referred to in this paragraph as a local allocation) and that are available for reallocation in accordance with this paragraph. The amount available for reallocation for a program year is equal to the amount by which the unobligated balance of the local allocation, at the end of the program year prior to the program year for which the determination under this paragraph is made, exceeds 20 percent of such allocation for the prior program year. In making reallocations to eligible local areas of amounts available pursuant to subparagraph (B) for a program year, the Governor shall allocate to each eligible local area within the State an amount based on the relative amount of the local allocation for the program year for which the determination is made, as compared to the total amount of the local allocations for all eligible local areas in the State for such program year. For purposes of this paragraph, the term eligible local area means a local area that meets the requirements under subsection (c) and does not have an amount available for reallocation under subparagraph (B) for the program year for which the determination under such subparagraph is made. Of the amount allocated to a local area under paragraph (1)— not more than 10 percent of such amount may be used for the administrative costs of carrying out a year-round employment program under this section, including costs for participating in regional and national opportunities for in-person or virtual peer learning under section 9; and not less than 5 percent of such amount shall be used to provide direct financial assistance to eligible youth through grants to support their financial needs to enter, remain enrolled in, and complete the program, such as support for supplies, transportation, child care, and housing. In order for a local area to be eligible for funds under this section, the local board of the local area shall develop and submit to the Governor in accordance with paragraph (2) a 4-year plan for the year-round employment program. Such plan shall, at a minimum— not conflict with the local plan submitted by the local board under section 108 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3123), as determined by the Governor; and contain the contents required under paragraph (3). A plan required under this subsection shall be submitted by the local board to the Governor for the local area involved at such time and in such manner as the Governor may reasonably require. If a local area is seeking funds under this section and section 4, the plan required under this subsection may be submitted in combination with a plan under section 4, in lieu of the local area submitting 2 separate plans. At a minimum, each plan required under this subsection shall include— a description of how the local area will carry out the activities described in subsection (d) for each program year; a description of how the local area will recruit eligible youth to participate in the year-round employment program, including how the local area will prioritize recruitment of individuals with barriers to employment; the number of eligible youth expected to participate in the program each program year; a description of the services, including supportive services, that the program is expected to provide to eligible youth, including how the local area will partner with community-based organizations to provide such services; performance accountability goals, as measured on the primary indicators of performance described in subsection (e)(1); an assurance that the program will be aligned with the youth investment activities provided by the local area under chapter 2 of subtitle B of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3161 et seq.); an assurance that the local area will adhere to the labor standards and other requirements and restrictions described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 7; a description of the alignment of the program to work-based learning opportunities, or plans to create work-based learning opportunities, and a description of whether the program awards academic credit towards a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent, or a recognized postsecondary credential, as applicable; a description of programs being offered that align with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations; a written commitment and support from the corresponding mayors or country executives to support the execution of the program as described in the plan; and any other information that the Governor may reasonably require. A local area that receives an allocation under this section shall use such allocation for development activities or expansion activities with respect to a year-round employment program in accordance with this subsection. In the case of a local area that, at the beginning of the first program year covered by the local plan submitted under subsection (c), is not carrying out a year-round employment program described in paragraph (4), the local board of such local area— shall use the amount allocated under this section to such local area to— plan, develop, and carry out a community-based year-round employment program that is described in and meets each requirement of paragraph (4), and that to the extent practicable is evidence-based; engage or establish industry or sector partnerships to determine year-round job needs to inform the establishment of such program; and conduct outreach to eligible youth and employers; and may— use such amount to develop technology infrastructure, including data and management systems, to support such program; and use not more than 50 percent of such amount to subsidize the wages of each eligible youth participating in such program. In the case of a local area that, at the beginning of the first program year covered by the local plan submitted under subsection (c), is carrying out a year-round program described in paragraph (4), the local board of such local area— shall use the amount allocated under this section to such local area to— increase the number of community-based, year-round employment opportunities offered through such program, including unsubsidized or partly subsidized opportunities and opportunities in the private sector, that to the extent practicable are evidence-based; conduct outreach to eligible youth and employers; and subsidize the wages of each eligible youth participating in such program, subject to paragraph (4)(A)(ii); and may use such amount to enhance the activities required under paragraph (4)(B). A year-round employment program described in this paragraph is a program that meets each of the following requirements: Each eligible youth participating in the program is matched with an appropriate employer, based on factors including the needs of the employer and the age, skill, and informed aspirations of the participant, for high-quality, year-round employment, which may not— be less than 180 days or more than 1 year; pay less than the greater of the applicable Federal, State, or local minimum wage; or employ the eligible youth for less than 20 hours per week. Not less than 25 percent of the wages of each eligible youth participating in the program is paid by the employer, except this requirement may be waived for not more than 10 percent of eligible youth participating in the program that have a significant barrier to employment, as defined by the State board. The program includes each of the following program elements: Work readiness training and educational programs aligned to career pathways for eligible youth to enhance their year-round employment opportunities, including programs with digital literacy and online work readiness opportunities, as appropriate, and support with obtaining documentation needed for employment, such as identification or a license. Coaching and mentoring services for eligible youth participating in the year-round employment program to enhance their year-round employment opportunities and encourage completion of such opportunities through the program, which services may be provided prior to, during, or after the year-round employment program. Coaching and mentoring services for employers on how to successfully employ each eligible youth participating in the program in meaningful work, including on providing a safe work and training environment for all participants, regardless of race, color, disability, age, religion, national origin, political affiliation, belief, marital status, sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition, or status as a parent. Career exploration, career counseling, career planning, and postsecondary education planning services for eligible youth participating in the program. High-quality financial literacy education, for eligible youth participating in the program, to support their financial literacy, as described in section 129(b)(2)(D) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164(b)(2)(D)), and including education on the use of credit, financing higher education, savings and access to safe and affordable banking accounts with consumer protections. Provision of supportive services to eligible youth, or connection of such youth to supportive services provided by another entity, to enable participation in the program, which may include food and nutrition services, and health and mental health care supports. Follow-up services for not less than 12 months after the completion of participation, as appropriate. Integration of services provided by the program with youth development programs, secondary school programs, career pathways, career and technical education programs, youth workforce investment activities under chapter 2 of subtitle B of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3161 et seq.), and skills training programs funded by the State or Federal Government, as applicable. Connection of eligible youth participating in the program to providers of youth services (such as youth workforce investment activities), adult employment and training activities, vocational rehabilitation services, adult education and literacy activities under title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3271 et seq.), career pathways, postsecondary education, or skills training programs funded by the State or Federal Government, as applicable. A rigorous evaluation of such program using research approaches appropriate to the level of development and maturity of the program, including random assignment or quasi-experimental impact evaluations, implementation evaluations, pre-experimental studies, or feasibility studies. Each local board shall ensure that each participant of a year-round employment program receiving assistance under this section shall be provided— information on the full array of applicable or appropriate services that are available through the local board or other eligible providers or one-stop partners, including those providers or partners receiving funds under this Act; and referral to appropriate training and educational programs that have the capacity to serve the participant either on a concurrent or sequential basis. Each local board shall, in a manner consistent with section 129(c)(3)(B) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164(c)(3)(B)), ensure that eligible youth who do not meet the employment requirements for the year-round employment program shall be referred for further assessment, as necessary, and referred to appropriate programs in accordance with clause (i) to meet the basic skills and training needs for such employment. In carrying out a year-round employment program receiving assistance under this section, a local area shall give priority to year-round employment opportunities offered under such program— in existing or emerging high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations; or that meet community needs in the public, private, or nonprofit sector. For each local area carrying out a year-round employment program funded under this section, the primary indicators of performance, with respect to each such program, shall include— the performance metrics described in section 116(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A)(ii)); the percentage of program participants completing the program; and the percentage of program participants having participated in work-based learning. If a local area fails, for any program year, to meet a performance accountability goal identified in its local plan under subsection (c)(3)(E) with respect to a year-round employment program receiving assistance under this section, the Governor, or, upon request by the Governor, the Secretary of Labor, shall provide the local area with technical assistance, which may include assistance in the development of a performance improvement plan for such program. In a case in which such local area fails to meet such performance accountability goal with respect to the program for a third consecutive year or fails to implement the improvement plan, the Governor shall take corrective actions, which may include, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, the withholding from the local area of all, or a portion, of the allocation under this section. Such withheld funds shall be used to provide year-round employment activities in such local area under alternative arrangements that are consistent with the program elements described in subsection (d)(4)(B), with the commitment described in subsection (c)(3)(J). Any funds made available for a year-round employment program under this section shall supplement and not supplant other State or local public funds expended for year-round youth employment programs or other youth activities funded under section 129 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164). For each year for which a local area receives an allocation under this section for a year-round employment program, the local area shall submit to the Secretary of Labor and the Governor a report containing— the number of eligible youth participating in the program; the number of eligible youth participating in the program who complete a year-round employment opportunity through the program; the expenditures made from the allocation under this section, including expenditures made to provide eligible youth participating in the program with supportive services; a description of how the local area has used the allocation under this section to develop or expand a year-round employment program that is a work-based learning program, including a description of program activities and services provided to eligible youth, including supportive services provided and the number of eligible youth participating in the program and accessing such services; for each youth participant with a subsidized wage, the amount and information describing the source of the subsidy, including the amount of the subsidy covered by grant funds under this section; information specifying the levels of performance achieved with respect to the primary indicators of performance described in subsection (e)(1) for the program; the average number of hours and weeks worked and the average amount of wages earned by eligible youth participating in the program; the average number of hours spent on— carrying out recruitment and retention strategies; and providing support for participating youth, such as career planning, and time management and financial literacy training; the percent of eligible youth participating in the program that are placed in an employment opportunity in the nonprofit sector; the percent placed in an employment opportunity in the public sector; and the percent placed in an employment opportunity in the private sector; the number of eligible youth participating in the program who are asked by the employer involved to remain employed by the employer after the end of the year-round employment program and the number of such youth participants remaining employed by the employer for not less than 90 days after the end of the year-round employment program; and any other information that the Secretary of Labor determines to be necessary to monitor the effectiveness of the program. The information required to be reported under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (G) of paragraph (1) shall be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, sex, age, and status in each subpopulation described in subclauses (I) through (VI) of section 129(a)(1)(B)(iii) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164(a)(1)(B)(iii)). For the purposes of this section, the term eligible youth means an individual who, at the time the eligibility determination is made, is an out-of-school youth.

6. Connecting-for-opportunities competitive grant program From the amount available under section 3(b)(3), the Secretary of Labor shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, award grants on a competitive basis to local community partnerships to assist such local community partnerships in improving high school graduation and youth employment rates. In this section, the term local community partnership means a partnership that shall include each of the mandatory partners described in paragraph (2) and may include any of the optional partners described in paragraph (3). The mandatory partners described in this paragraph are each of the following: A unit of general local government. A local educational agency. An institution of higher education. A local board. A community-based organization with experience or expertise in working with youth. A public agency serving youth or young adults under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system or criminal justice system. A State or local child welfare agency. An agency administering programs under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). An industry or sector partnership, to the extent practicable. A labor organization or joint labor-management organization, to the extent practicable. The optional partners described in this paragraph are any of the following: A one-stop operator. An employer or employer association. An entity that carries out a program that receives funding under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (34 U.S.C. 11101 et seq.). A public agency, or community-based organization, with expertise in providing, to youth, evidence-based trauma support services, counseling (including trauma-informed and gender-responsive care), or mental health care. A public housing agency, a collaborative applicant (as defined in section 401 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360)), or a private nonprofit organization that serves homeless youth and households or foster youth. The operator of a Job Corps center. Another appropriate State or local agency. A local community partnership desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary of Labor an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. At a minimum, each application shall include a comprehensive plan that— demonstrates sufficient need for the grant to serve the local population, which need may be demonstrated— on the basis of the relative number of high school dropouts in the local area to be served by the partnership, as compared to the total number of high school dropouts in local areas in all States; on the basis of the relative number of unemployed individuals ages 16 through 24 in the local area to be served by the partnership, as compared to the total number of unemployed individuals ages 16 through 24 in local areas in all States; or on the basis of the relative percentage or number of low-income individuals in the local area to be served by the partnership, as compared to the total percentage or number of low-income individuals in local areas in all States; identifies and describes the role of each entity in the partnership, including the fiscal agent in the partnership and the role of each such entity in carrying out the activities described in subsection (d); does not conflict with the local plan submitted by the local board, in the local area served by the local community partnership, under section 108 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3123), the applicable local application for career and technical education programs under section 134 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2354) (if not part of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act local plan), and the applicable State plan for programs under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); includes an assurance that the partnership will adhere to the labor standards and other requirements and restrictions described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 7; and for any activity that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential, describes the activity leading to the credential. A local community partnership receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant funds— to target and serve individuals not younger than age 14 or older than age 24, prioritizing individuals with barriers to employment; to make appropriate use of education, child welfare, social services, and workforce development data collection systems to facilitate the local community partnership’s ability to target and serve the individuals described in paragraph (1); to develop wide-ranging pathways leading to postsecondary education and employment, including— using not less than 50 percent of the grant funds to help individuals described in paragraph (1) complete their secondary school education, including through high-quality, flexible programs that utilize community-based, and, to the extent practicable, evidence-based interventions and provide differentiated services (or pathways) to students— who are returning to education after exiting secondary school without a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent; or who, based on their grade or age, are significantly off track to accumulate sufficient academic credits to meet high school graduation requirements, as established by the State; creating career pathways, focused on paid work-based learning consisting of on-the-job training and classroom instruction, that— will lead to the attainment of a recognized postsecondary credential; and includes, to the maximum extent practicable, learning through apprenticeship programs and pre-apprenticeship programs; connecting individuals described in paragraph (1) with professionals who can provide such individuals with pre-employment and employment counseling and assist such individuals in— finding and securing employment or work-based learning opportunities that pay not less than the greater of the applicable Federal, State, or local minimum wage; identifying and assessing eligibility for training programs and funding for such programs; completing necessary paperwork for applying for and enrolling in such programs; and identifying additional services, if needed; connecting individuals described in paragraph (1) with providers of— youth services (such as youth workforce investment activities), adult employment and training activities, vocational rehabilitation services, and adult education and literacy services, under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.); career planning services; and federally and State-funded programs that provide skills training; and ensuring that such individuals successfully transition into pre-apprenticeship programs, apprenticeship programs, or programs leading to recognized postsecondary credentials in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations; to provide a comprehensive system of supportive services aimed at preventing the individuals described in paragraph (1) from disconnecting from education, training, or employment, and aimed at re-engaging any such individual who has been so disconnected, by— providing school-based dropout prevention and community-based dropout recovery services, including establishing or improving local educational agency early warning systems that— connect to data collection and reporting systems established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) for the purpose of identifying the individuals described in paragraph (1) who are at risk for such disconnection if such data does not reveal personally identifiable information about a program participant or would not reveal such information when combined with other released information; and engage any such identified individual using targeted, community-based, and, to the extent practicable, evidence-based interventions to address the specific needs and issues of the individual, including chronic absenteeism; and providing the individuals described in paragraph (1) who are at risk for such disconnection with access to re-engagement services for training programs and employment opportunities and, to the extent practicable, using providers of youth workforce investment activities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) to conduct intake and refer such individuals and their families to the appropriate re-engagement services; and to provide a comprehensive system of support for the individuals described in paragraph (1), including— connecting such individuals with professionals who can— provide case management and counseling services; and assist such individuals in— developing achievable short-term goals and long-term goals; and overcoming any social, administrative, or financial barrier that may hinder enrollment in the program for which the grant was made or the achievement of such goals; and providing or connecting participants with available supportive services. In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary of Labor shall give priority to applications, submitted by local community partnerships, that include a comprehensive plan that— serves and targets communities with a high percentage of low-income individuals and a high rate of high school dropouts and youth unemployment; and allows the individuals described in paragraph (1) to earn academic credit through various means, including high-quality career and technical education, dual or concurrent enrollment programs, virtual learning, or work-based learning. The Secretary of Labor shall ensure that consideration is given to geographic distribution (such as distribution to urban, Tribal, and rural areas) in awarding grants under this section. For a partnership receiving a grant to carry out a program under this section, the primary indicators of performance, with respect to such program, shall include— the performance metrics described in section 116(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A)(ii)); the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate and the extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, in a State that chooses to use such a graduation rate for participants in the program; and the rate of attaining a recognized equivalent of a high school diploma, such as a GED diploma for participants in the program. For each year that a local community partnership carries out activities (including providing services) with a grant under this section, the partnership shall submit to the State board in which the partnership is carrying out activities under this section, and to the Secretary of Labor, a report on— the number of individuals ages 16 through 24 (referred to in this subsection as youth) participating in activities under subsection (d), including the number of in-school youth and out-of-school youth so participating; the expenditures made from the grant awarded under this section, including any expenditures made to provide youth participants with supportive services; a description of the activities carried out under this section, including supportive services provided and the number of youth participants accessing such services; information specifying the levels of performance achieved with respect to the primary indicators of performance described in subsection (g) for the program; and any other information that the Secretary of Labor determines to be necessary to monitor the effectiveness of the program. The information required to be reported under subparagraphs (A), (C), and (D) of paragraph (1) shall be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, sex, age, and status in each subpopulation described in subclauses (I) through (VI) of section 129(a)(1)(B)(iii) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164(a)(1)(B)(iii)).

7. Labor standards Any activity receiving assistance under this Act shall be subject to— the requirements and restrictions, including the labor standards, that apply to activities under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111 et seq.) as provided under section 181 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3241); the requirements for nondiscrimination that apply to activities under such title as provided under section 188 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 3248); and any other applicable Federal law.

8. Privacy Nothing in this Act— shall be construed to supersede the privacy protections afforded parents and students under section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g) and such protections shall apply as if each program funded under this Act is an applicable program under that section; shall be construed to permit the development of a national database of personally identifiable information on individuals receiving services under this Act; or shall require the disaggregation of data when the number of individuals in a category is insufficient to yield statistically reliable information or when the results would reveal personally identifiable information about an individual, or would reveal such information when combined with other released information.

9. Innovation and learning Out of the amount reserved under section 3(a)(1), the Secretary of Labor shall— provide technical assistance to ensure that each State, local area, and local community partnership receiving funds under this Act have sufficient organizational capacity, staff training, and expertise to effectively implement the requirements under this Act; create regional and national opportunities for virtual or in-person peer learning; and provide, on a competitive basis, grants to States and local areas to— conduct pilot programs and demonstration programs using emerging and evidence-based best practices and models for youth employment programs; and evaluate programs conducted under subparagraph (A) using designs that employ the most rigorous analytical and statistical methods that are reasonably feasible.

10. Evaluation and reports The Secretary of Labor shall conduct, on an annual basis, a rigorous evaluation of the programs administered under this Act using research approaches appropriate to the level of development and maturity of the program, including random assignment or quasi-experimental impact evaluations, implementation evaluations, pre-experimental studies, or feasibility studies. Beginning on the date of the completion of the first program year, after the date of enactment of this Act, for which funds are expended to carry out this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Labor shall transmit to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and make publicly accessible, the reports described in sections 4(g), 5(g), and 6(h), and a final report on the results of each evaluation conducted under subsection (a).

11. Definitions In this Act: Except as otherwise provided, any term that is defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102) shall have the meaning given the term in such section. The term apprenticeship, used with respect to a program, means an apprenticeship program registered 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.). The terms dual or concurrent enrollment program, evidence-based, extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, local educational agency, and secondary school have the meanings given such terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). The terms Alaska Native, Indian, Indian tribe, National Hawaiian organization, and tribal organization have the meanings given such terms in section 166 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3221). The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in sections 101 and 102(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001, 1002(a)(1)(B)). The term pre-apprenticeship, used with respect to a program, means a training model or program that— is designed to prepare participants to enter an apprenticeship program; is carried out by a sponsor that has a written agreement with 1 or more sponsors of apprenticeship programs that would enable participants who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship program— to enter into the corresponding apprenticeship program if a place in the program is available and if the participant meets the qualifications of the apprenticeship program; and to earn credits towards the apprenticeship program; and includes— training (including a curriculum for the training) that is aligned with industry standards related to the apprenticeship program and that is created in consultation with the sponsors of the apprenticeship program that are parties to the written agreement under subparagraph (B), and that will prepare participants by teaching the skills and competencies needed to enter 1 or more apprenticeship programs; and hands-on training and theoretical education for participants that do not displace a paid employee. The term program year is used in the manner as such term is used with respect to youth workforce investment activities under subtitle B of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3151 et seq.) and activities under section 171 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 3226). The term supportive services means services such as transportation, child care, dependent care, housing, needs-related payments, food and nutrition services, and health and mental health care supports, that are necessary to enable an individual to participate in activities authorized under this Act. The term work-based learning has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).