The bill will directly modify the existing framework under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act by adding provisions for youth mentoring programs. By expanding the scope of workforce readiness initiatives, it aims to lower barriers for at-risk youth and prepare them for high school completion, higher education, and career success. The bill underscores the need for youth to acquire cognitive and social-emotional skills necessary for thriving in future environments, potentially influencing state-imposed educational standards and community resource allocations.
Summary
SB299, known as the 'Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2025', aims to establish a competitive grant program to support and enhance youth mentoring programs. This legislation seeks to provide eligible youth with critical social and emotional learning tools, employability skill development, and career exploration opportunities. The program focuses on connecting mentors with youth, particularly those in underserved or disadvantaged communities, and emphasizes the importance of mentorship in improving academic achievement and workforce readiness.
Contention
While the bill enjoys support among legislators who believe in the necessity of mentoring for youth development, contention may arise around funding allocations and the operationalization of grant distributions. Critics might express concerns over the effectiveness of government-managed programs, the scaling of mentoring initiatives, and the potential for unequal access to resources based on geographic or socioeconomic status. Additionally, the effectiveness of mentorship as a standalone solution in addressing complex socio-economic issues will likely be a point of debate.
Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Education to award grants to high-need local educational agencies, high-need schools, and local governments to establish, expand, or support school-based mentoring programs that assist at-risk students in developing cognitive skills and promoting social-emotional learning to prepare them for success in high school, postsecondary education, and the workforce. Additionally, the bill directs the Institute of Education Sciences to conduct a study to identify successful school-based mentoring programs and evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program established by this bill.
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants to community colleges for high-quality workforce development programs.
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants to community colleges for high-quality workforce development programs.