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Chairman Phil Mendelson Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. 2
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Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie 6
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Councilmember Trayon White Sr. Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau 10
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Councilmember Janeese Lewis George Councilmember Brooke Pinto 14
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Councilmember Matthew Frumin Councilmember Christina Henderson 19
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Councilmember Zachary Parker 24
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A BILL 29
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 33
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To establish a Workforce Ready Program that is locally funded and administered by the Office 38
of the State Superintendent of Education. 39
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 41
act may be cited as the “Vocational Education for a New Generation Act of 2024”. 42
Sec. 2. Definitions. 43
For the purposes of this title, the term: 44
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(1) “Adult student” shall have the same meaning as provided in Section 4(2) of 45
The District of Columbia Nonresident Tuition Act, approved September 8, 1960 (74 Stat. 854; 46
D.C. Official Code § 38-301(2)). 47
(2) “CTE” means career and technical education. 48
(3) “Formula” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 102 of the 49
Uniform Per Student Funding Formula for Public Schools and Public Charter Schools Act of 50
1998, effective March 26, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-207; D.C. Official Code § 38-2901(8)). 51
(4) “Industry certification” or “credential” means industry-endorsed assessments 52
that are designed to indicate an individual’s ability and competence in a field of work and 53
signifies satisfactory completion of education and experience requirements. 54
(5) “Labor organization" shall have the same meaning as provided in Section 102 55
of the Human Rights Act of 1977, effective December 13, 1977 (D.C. Law 2-38; D.C. Official 56
Code § 2–1401.02(15)). 57
(6) “Local education agency” shall have the same meaning as provided in Section 58
3(b) of the State Education Office Establishment Act of 2000, effective October 21, 2000 (D.C. 59
Law 13-176; D.C. Official Code § 38-2602(b)(20)(O)(iii)). 60
(7) “Nonprofit” means an organization or institution that is exempt from federal 61
income tax under the provisions of 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) and that meets the requirements 62
of Chapter 4 of Title 29. 63
(8) “Participant” means individuals pursuing a CTE pathway or CTE program. 64
(9) “Perkins V Grant” means the Strengthening Career and Technical Education 65
for the 21st Century Act, approved July 31, 2018 (Pub. L. No. 115-224; 132 Stat. 1563). 66
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(10) “Technical occupation” means a job that does not require a bachelor’s degree 67
and provides workers with a career path that will allow them to build skills through experience 68
toward in-demand jobs and achieve economic mobility. 69
(11) “Work-based learning” means an instructional opportunity for students to 70
interact with industry professionals to learn technical and employability skills and knowledge 71
necessary in a field of work. 72
Sec. 3. Establishment of a local career and technical education program. 73
(a) There is established a local fund for a CTE and Workforce Ready Program 74
(“Workforce Ready Program”), which shall be administered by the Office of the State 75
Superintendent of Education (“OSSE”), beginning in the 2024 to 2025 school year, in 76
accordance with subsections (d) and (e) of this section. 77
(b) The funding for the Workforce Ready Program shall be supplemental to Formula, 78
federal, or other funds received by OSSE for CTE. 79
(c) OSSE shall have the authority to issue grants or enter into contracts or partnership 80
agreements using money from the Workforce Ready Program fund to District of Columbia 81
Public Schools, local education agencies, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, 82
employers, and labor organizations to improve the quality and accessibility of career and 83
technical education opportunities. The grants, contracts, and partnership agreements awarded 84
shall be supplemental to Formula, federal, or other funds received by a school for CTE. 85
(d) Money in the Workforce Ready Program fund shall be used for the following 86
purposes: 87
(1) Establishment of new CTE programs and programs of study; 88
(2) Expansion of existing CTE programs to meet industry demand; 89
(3) Expansion of CTE courses, including dual enrollment courses; 90
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(4) Expansion of CTE programs of study for adult students enrolled in Perkins V 91
Grant funded local education agencies; 92
(5) Industry certification or credential fees; and 93
(6) Career guidance and counseling services for participants. 94
(e) Money in the Workforce Ready Program fund may be used for the following 95
purposes: 96
(1) Transportation costs for participants to cover commuting to and from CTE 97
programs, off-site internships, or work-based learning opportunities; 98
(2) Training for CTE instructors to meet industry demand; 99
(3) Expansion of CTE programs of study and participant seats at the District of 100
Columbia Advanced Technical Center; and 101
(4) Student wages in work-based learning opportunities. 102
(f) Each recipient of Workforce Ready Program funds shall offer at least one CTE 103
program that leads to industry certification, credentials, or degrees associated with technical 104
occupations upon completion of the program. 105
(g) Each recipient of Workforce Ready Program funds shall submit to OSSE an Industry 106
Certification Plan that includes the following: 107
(1) A timeline outlining the sequence of steps that will prepare students to acquire 108
industry certifications, credentials, or degrees upon completion of the CTE program; 109
(2) Resources necessary to meet paragraph (1) of this subsection such as 110
technology and equipment, training for teachers and instructors, work-based learning 111
opportunities, career counseling and guidance services, transportation assistance, resources for 112
outreach efforts to attract students to enroll in its CTE program; and 113
(3) Any additional information deemed pertinent by OSSE. 114
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(h) Within 6 months after the applicability date of the Vocational Education for a New 115
Generation Act of 2024, OSSE shall develop, and publish on its website, a method to assess 116
student demand for CTE programs and conduct a student demand assessment. No later than one 117
month after the completion of the student demand assessment, OSSE shall establish, and publish 118
on its website, goals for CTE program capacity expansion based on the results of the student 119
demand assessment in accordance with this subsection, and OSSE shall meet the established 120
goals within 3 years. The method to assess student demand shall consider, at the minimum, the 121
following: 122
(1) Labor market demand; 123
(2) Student interest; 124
(3) Current CTE program participation; 125
(4) Number of available student seats in CTE programs and programs of study; 126
(5) Quality of CTE programs and programs of study; and 127
(6) Programmatic capacity to meet student interest and labor market demand. 128
Sec. 4. Reporting. 129
(a) On October 1 of the year after the establishment of the Workforce Ready Program 130
fund, and annually thereafter, OSSE shall publish on its website the core indicators of 131
performance mandated by the federal Perkins V Grant and the following information concerning 132
its CTE programs for the previous school year: 133
(1) The total number of students enrolled in CTE courses; 134
(2) The total number of students who participated in work-based learning 135
opportunities; 136
(3) The total number of students who obtained an industry certification or 137
credential and the specific types of industry certifications or credentials obtained; 138
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(4) The total number of students who enrolled in postsecondary education or 139
secured a job placement upon high school graduation and, to the extent possible, at 6 months and 140
12 months after high school graduation; and 141
(5) A description of collaborations and partnerships with employers, local 142
education agencies, higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations to increase job 143
placement opportunities for CTE students. 144
Sec. 5. Fiscal impact statement. 145
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 146
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 147
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 148
Sec. 6. Effective date. 149
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 150
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 151
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 152
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 153
Columbia Register. 154