The Adult Education WORKS Act creates a new role for "college and career navigators" who help adults access workforce development programs, postsecondary education, and career services. It requires states and local workforce boards to promote the employment of these navigators in one-stop centers, with $135 million authorized for library-based and community-based programs starting in 2026. The bill emphasizes developing digital literacy and information literacy skills as core components of adult education, and includes new performance metrics to track outcomes related to these skills. This legislation directly affects adult education programs, workforce development systems, and the individuals seeking career advancement through these services.
S 2028, the Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act of 2025, provides federal grants to colleges offering construction and manufacturing apprenticeships to expand student recruitment and support services. It creates two grant programs: (1) community outreach grants (max $500,000 per college) to connect with high schools, employers in rural areas, and workforce boards - prioritizing rural, first-generation, minority, and nontraditional students; and (2) student support grants (max $500,000 per college) for advising, mental health services, childcare, and career development to improve program retention and completion. The bill authorizes $5 million annually (2026-2030) for these programs, targeting colleges that sponsor registered apprenticeships in construction or manufacturing. It directly affects eligible apprenticeship colleges by funding specific activities to grow enrollment and support underrepresented students in these fields.
This bill authorizes $250 million over five years to fund grants for states, school districts, and eligible Tribal schools to expand computer science education. It requires grantees to provide computer science courses for all high school students within five years, create early access from pre-K through middle school, and implement plans to close equity gaps for underrepresented groups (including minority students, girls, and low-income youth). Grant funds must cover teacher training, high-quality learning materials, and targeted support for underrepresented students, with strict limits on equipment spending (max 15%). Grantees must report annually on student participation data disaggregated by race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
The Pathways to Prosperity Act creates a new grant program to strengthen workforce development at community colleges. It provides competitive grants to community colleges to develop programs that prepare students for high-skill, high-wage jobs through partnerships with employers in growing industries. The bill requires colleges to use proven methods, create credentials that can be used across different jobs or built upon for further training, and track outcomes like program completion and job advancement. It also establishes performance metrics for program evaluation and requires transparent public reporting of results. This legislation primarily affects community colleges, students, and workers seeking career advancement in specific industry sectors.
This bill reissues a contract for the "Charting My Path for Future Success" project, which trains educators to help high school students with disabilities set goals, create action plans, and track progress toward post-graduation success. It directly affects students with disabilities in 62 high schools across 13 local districts, where 61 educators currently support 1,600 students. The key mechanism requires the Secretary of Education to continue funding the existing nonprofit project - previously awarded under IDEA - by reissuing its solicitation. The bill ensures the project’s funding cannot be canceled without congressional approval, maintaining continuity for participating students and schools.
This bill expands 529 college savings account flexibility by allowing funds to cover costs for industry-recognized postsecondary credentials, not just traditional degrees. It defines "qualified expenses" to include tuition/fees for recognized credential programs (like certifications or apprenticeships), required testing fees, and continuing education needed to maintain credentials. To qualify, programs must meet specific criteria, such as appearing on state lists under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or being listed in VA or Defense directories. The change applies to 529 distributions made after the law's enactment, giving families more options to use these accounts for job-focused training.
This bill requires the Department of Education to publish detailed information about career and technical education (CTE) programs on its website, including average completion time, program cost, post-graduation employment rates, and state-specific funding opportunities under the Perkins Act. It also mandates adding a one-page summary of this CTE data to the FAFSA application, requiring students to acknowledge it during the initial financial aid process. The policy directly affects students applying for federal student aid by making CTE pathways visible early in their decision-making. No new funding is authorized for these requirements, relying instead on existing resources to update website content and integrate the FAFSA disclosure.
This bill creates a new grant program to fund high-quality workforce development programs at community colleges. It directs the Secretary of Labor to award competitive grants to community colleges that partner with employers in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industries to develop programs leading to nationally or regionally portable postsecondary credentials. The grants require evidence-based program design, employer engagement, and tracking of outcomes like program completion rates and job advancement for participants. Funded at $65 million annually from 2026-2031, the program prioritizes serving individuals with employment barriers, incumbent workers, and new workforce entrants through community college partnerships.
HR 7117, the Fast Track To and Through College Act, creates two pathways to accelerate college completion: "early college fast track pathways" that allow high school students to earn college credit through advanced coursework (like AP, IB, or dual enrollment), and "early high school graduation fast track pathways" that provide scholarships for students who graduate early without needing remedial college courses. The bill requires states to develop statewide policies and credit transfer agreements to align high school and college requirements, with competitive grants to help states implement these pathways. It also allows eligible high school students in these pathways to receive Federal Pell Grants while still in high school, with a waiver of the usual 12-semester Pell Grant cap. The bill aims to reduce college costs, improve credit transfer, and increase college completion rates, particularly for first-generation college students and other historically underrepresented groups.
This resolution (SRES 617) designates February 2026 as "Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month" to symbolically recognize CTE programs nationwide. It supports CTE's role in preparing students for high-demand careers by promoting workforce readiness through academic and technical skills training. The resolution encourages educators, counselors, parents, and school administrators to advocate for CTE as a valid educational pathway. As a non-binding Senate resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funds but affirms bipartisan support for CTE's importance in workforce development.
