Increase the Bar: Unlocking Profession Success Initiative is a joint-effort supported by the Departments of Commerce and Labor to extend high-quality pathways that result in in-demand jobs
WASHINGTON – Right this moment, the U.S. Division of Schooling (Division) introduced the launch of Increase the Bar: Unlocking Profession Success, a brand new Biden-Harris Administration initiative supported by the Departments of Commerce and Labor to extend and broaden entry to high-quality coaching applications to assist younger People pursue jobs in right now’s in-demand fields, and be ready for careers of the long run.
This new effort unites key companies of the Biden-Harris Administration to strengthen the connection between Okay-12 training, postsecondary training, and workforce applications. With the help of the $120 billion {dollars} devoted to Okay-12 training within the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and Perkins funding, the Administration is guaranteeing the following technology is constructing the abilities essential to fill high-paying jobs like these created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and CHIPS and Science Act. This consists of increasing entry to skills-based studying and coaching pathways, like Registered Apprenticeships in key industries similar to superior manufacturing, automotive, and cybersecurity.
As a part of right now’s launch, the Division is asserting $5.6 million {dollars} in Perkins funding for a brand new program to broaden work-based studying alternatives for college kids and this morning will challenge new guidance on how federal funds can be utilized to develop and broaden profession pathway applications, together with Registered Apprenticeships. As a part of this new initiative, the Division will host regional summits with college students, educators, employers, and different stakeholders to find out about practices which have led to success and challenges that should be addressed.
“It’s time we bridge the divide between our Okay-12 methods and our school, profession, and {industry} preparation applications, which go away too many college students behind and perpetuate inequities in our most various, underserved, and rural communities,” mentioned U.S. Secretary of Schooling Miguel Cardona. “An training system reimagined for the twenty first century engages youth of all ages within the energy of career-connected studying and supplies each scholar with the chance to achieve real-life work expertise, earn school credit, and make progress in the direction of an {industry} credential earlier than they graduate highschool. Right this moment, the Biden-Harris workforce is elevating the bar with new investments and sources to help intentional collaboration between faculties, faculties, workforce improvement companies and {industry} companions and construct clearer pathways for college kids to rewarding careers and lifelong success.”
In help of right now’s launch, the First Girl Jill Biden, Secretary Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh will journey to northwest suburban Chicago, Illinois to fulfill with college students enrolled in a career-connected studying program at Rolling Meadows Excessive Faculty. The Secretaries and the First Girl may also go to Aon’s Chicago facility hosted by the Chicago Apprenticeship Community to spotlight the worth of Registered Apprenticeship, significantly in non-traditional industries and company careers with a concentrate on underrepresented populations and communities in key sectors of expertise, finance, insurance coverage, and banking. The visits coincide with the primary day of Nationwide Apprenticeship Week, marking the eighty fifth Anniversary of the Nationwide Apprenticeship Act.
“America is dwelling to among the world’s brightest and most formidable college students, and we owe it to them to set them up for achievement,” mentioned U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Profession-connected teaching programs are important to the success of the American financial system and can spur a brand new technology of researchers, engineers, and producers in crucial industries. In launching this initiative, these applications and their graduates will allow us to proceed outcompeting and out-innovating the remainder of the world.”
“Throughout Nationwide Apprenticeship Week, the Biden-Harris administration is highlighting Registered Apprenticeship as a confirmed and industry-driven coaching mannequin to handle a few of our nation’s most urgent workforce challenges,” mentioned U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “The federal initiative introduced right now will additional help private-public partnerships that assist youth throughout the nation entry a school training, good-paying jobs, and powerful pathways to the center class.”
Right this moment’s bulletins embrace:
Investing $5.6 million in Perkins funding for faculties to broaden work-based studying alternatives
The Division introduced that it’s going to launch the “Profession Z Problem: Increasing Work-Primarily based Studying Alternatives” competitors in Spring 2023. The competitors will foster multi-sector partnerships and broaden work-based studying alternatives for college kids. Semi-finalists and finalists shall be eligible to obtain focused technical help together with skilled improvement help, webinars and coaching, in addition to a portion of a prize pool.
Offering new steering to colleges on utilizing American Rescue Plan funds to broaden profession pathways for college kids to pursue in-demand jobs and help Registered Apprenticeships
The Division will publish a Dear Colleague Letter that gives info on how faculties can use ARP funds to develop and broaden profession pathway applications and assist extra college students pursue careers in in-demand fields.
This initiative builds on President Biden’s FY 2023 Price range proposal, which invests $200 million in Profession-Linked Excessive Colleges and helps aggressive grants to develop and construct fashions of this daring imaginative and prescient. Funding would additionally help partnerships between native academic companies, establishments of upper training—together with group faculties—and employers, to encourage incomes school credit score whereas in highschool by way of twin enrollment in core content material and profession and technical coursework; work-based studying alternatives; and tutorial and profession counseling. President Biden’s FY 2023 Price range proposal additionally consists of $1.4 billion for Profession and Technical Schooling (CTE) applications. This consists of a rise of $20 million for CTE state grants that may broaden entry to career-connected applications for extra college students.
For extra info on work the Division is doing to strengthen school and profession pathways sign up for our newsletter here.