Sponsors
Introduced September 19, 2025 by Adam Smith · Last progress September 19, 2025
The bill substantially expands federal support and student access to career and technical education—creating clearer pathways and stronger employer ties—while increasing federal spending and imposing matching, administrative, and design risks that could leave under-resourced and rural areas behind and narrow some educational priorities.
High-school students — especially low-income, underserved, and opportunity youth — gain expanded access to CTE programs, apprenticeships, dual-enrollment, and industry-recognized credentials with grants that can lower time and cost to a postsecondary credential.
State and local education systems receive federal grants to build/renovate CTE high schools and regional centers, buy equipment, and expand aligned online programs, lowering local capital costs and supporting regional workforce needs.
Employers and workers benefit from employer partnerships, paid internships/apprenticeships, and job-placement targets that strengthen local hiring pipelines and improve employment outcomes.
All taxpayers face higher federal spending due to new grants and an expanded CTE Pell-style aid program, increasing budgetary costs and potential pressure for offsets.
State and local governments may need to provide 25–50% matching funds and cover implementation costs, straining education budgets and making under-resourced and rural areas less able to compete for grants.
Increased administrative, reporting, and application/documentation requirements will add workload for SEAs, LEAs, colleges, schools, teachers, students, and families and could delay awards or implementation.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Creates a voluntary federal grant program and a new "CTE Pell Grant" to expand and improve secondary career and technical education (CTE). The bill funds 5-year competitive grants to State educational agencies to build or upgrade CTE high schools and regional centers, develop career-aligned coursework, expand employer partnerships and work-based learning, support dual enrollment with community colleges, and deliver online/hybrid programs. It requires regular workforce-alignment assessments, data reporting, and performance benchmarks. It also authorizes Pell-style grants for public secondary students to pay tuition or attendance costs for industry credentials, apprenticeships, dual-enrollment technical courses, and related CTE programs.