Bill Summary
This bill, known as the "Classroom to Careers Act of 2019," aims to amend the Federal Work-Study program to allow institutions of higher education to use their work-study funding for full-time, off-campus cooperative education and work-based learning experiences. This means that students can gain practical work experience with non-profit, government, and for-profit employers while still receiving financial assistance through the Federal Work-Study program. The purpose of this Act is to expand and enhance the use of work-study by students, and the amendments made will align with the career pathways defined in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The bill also clarifies the definition of "cooperative education" as alternating or parallel periods of academic study and work-based learning or employment, and requires that institutions ensure work-study participation aligns with students' academic or career goals.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could positively affect students by expanding their opportunities to gain work experience and earn funds through full-time, off-campus cooperative education and work-based learning. This could provide students with valuable skills and connections in their chosen field, potentially leading to better career prospects in the future.
2. Nonprofit, government, and for-profit employers may be affected by this legislation as it allows them to participate in the Federal Work-Study program and provide students with work-based learning experiences. This could lead to a larger pool of qualified and motivated potential employees for these organizations.
3. The inclusion of career pathways and cooperative education in this legislation could potentially benefit the economy as a whole by better aligning students' education and career goals. This could lead to a more skilled and knowledgeable workforce, potentially improving overall job performance and productivity.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 830 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 830
To amend the Federal Work-Study program to permit institutions of
higher education to use their Federal work-study allocations for full-
time, off-campus cooperative education and work-based learning.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 14, 2019
Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself and Mr. Toomey) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Work-Study program to permit institutions of
higher education to use their Federal work-study allocations for full-
time, off-campus cooperative education and work-based learning.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Classroom to Careers Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAMS FOR FULL-TIME, OFF-
CAMPUS COOPERATIVE EDUCATION AND WORK-BASED LEARNING.
(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act, and the amendments
made by this Act, to enable, expand, and enhance the use of Federal
work-study by students for part-time and full-time, off-campus
cooperative education and other work-based learning experiences with
nonprofit, government, and for-profit employers.
(b) Grants for Federal Work-Study Programs.--Part C of title IV of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087-51 et seq.) is
amended--
(1) in section 441(a), by striking ``part-time''; and
(2) in section 443--
(A) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``part-
time'';
(B) in subsection (c)--
(i) in paragraph (1)--
(I) by striking ``program of part-
time employment'' and inserting the
following: ``program--
``(A) of employment'';
(II) by inserting ``or'' after
``subsection (b)(3);''; and
(III) by adding at the end the
following:
``(B) of full-time employment of its cooperative
education students--
``(i) in work for a private for-profit
organization under an arrangement between the
institution and such organization that offers
cooperative education and with the requirements
of subparagraphs (A) through (D) of subsection
(b)(1) and subsection (b)(3) for not longer
than a 6-month period (which period may be
completed non-consecutively, including during
summer and intercession periods); and
``(ii) who may participate in more than one
work period described in clause (i) during the
course of the students' enrollment;''; and
(ii) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``and
complement and reinforce the educational goals
or career goals of each student receiving
assistance under this part'' after
``relevant''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Career Pathways.--An institution that operates a work-study
program under this part shall ensure that participation in the program
aligns with the requirements of career pathways as defined in section 3
of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
``(g) Cooperative Education.--In this section, the term
`cooperative education' means the provision of alternating or parallel
periods of academic study and work-based learning or public or private
employment to give students work experiences related to their academic
or occupational objectives and an opportunity to earn the funds
necessary for continuing and completing their education.''.
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