The proposed legislation emphasizes a transition that integrates youth apprenticeships with academic requirements, thereby reinforcing the importance of vocational training within the educational framework. Support for organizations that reach underrepresented and non-traditional apprenticeship populations is a critical part of the bill, intending to create a more diverse workforce. Moreover, recipients of the grants are required to report on outcomes and provide performance data, which will help evaluate the effectiveness of these programs and inform future policy decisions.
Summary
House Bill 658, known as the 'Strengthening Youth Apprenticeships Act of 2023', aims to enhance and expand youth apprenticeship programs across the United States by directing the Secretary of Labor to award grants to eligible entities. The bill encourages partnerships between educational institutions, including community colleges, and industry stakeholders to create opportunities for high school students to engage in job training and career readiness initiatives. By doing so, it seeks to more effectively align apprenticeship programs with high school curricula and broader educational goals.
Contention
One point of contention surrounding HB 658 is the potential burden on state and local entities to implement these apprenticeship programs effectively, particularly regarding funding and resource allocation. Critics argue that while the intent is noble, it may inadvertently prioritize certain industries over others, potentially leading to disparities in access to quality apprenticeships. Additionally, discussions may arise regarding the quality and safety of training environments and the necessity for individualized support for students from diverse backgrounds.
American Apprenticeship Act This bill authorizes the Department of Labor to make grants to assist states in carrying out projects that defray the cost of pre-apprenticeship or related instruction for qualified apprenticeship programs. Labor shall (1) establish performance measures and an evaluation system for such grant program; and (2) identify in-demand occupations that lack the use of apprenticeships, analyze the use of the qualified apprenticeship program model in those occupations, and report on such analysis to states and Congress.
Promoting Kansas workforce development by enacting the Kansas apprenticeship act to expand apprenticeships with businesses, healthcare organizations and nonprofit organizations through tax credits and grants and to develop teaching apprenticeships with public schools through scholarships for professional teaching degrees and by establishing a program to provide matching grants to public and private professional engineering schools for engineering scholarships and program development costs.
To direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants to develop, administer, and evaluate early childhood education apprenticeships, and for other purposes.