Counseling for Career Choice Act
This bill directs the Department of Education to award competitive grants to state educational agencies and, through them, subgrants to eligible entities (e.g., local educational agencies) to implement comprehensive school career counseling programs.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2733 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2733
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide
grants to States to establish a comprehensive school career counseling
framework.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 21, 2021
Mr. Langevin (for himself and Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education
and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide
grants to States to establish a comprehensive school career counseling
framework.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Counseling for Career Choice Act''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT.
Title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Part G--Counseling for Career Choice
``SEC. 4701. DEFINITIONS.
``In this part:
``(1) Community college.--The term `community college'
means--
``(A) a junior or community college (as defined in
section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1058(f)));
``(B) a 4-year public institution of higher
education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that awards a
significant number of degrees and certificates, as
determined by the Secretary, that are not--
``(i) baccalaureate degrees (or an
equivalent); or
``(ii) master's, professional, or other
advanced degrees; or
``(C) an area career and technical education school
(as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career
and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302)).
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) an eligible agency, as defined in section
3(18) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302(18));
``(B) a local educational agency, including an
educational service agency; or
``(C) a consortium that consists of one local
educational agency in combination with one or more
local educational agencies, educational service
agencies, nonprofit organizations with demonstrated
expertise in counseling or career and technical
education, postsecondary institutions, or tribal
organizations.
``(3) Local workforce development board.--The term `local
workforce development board' means a local workforce
development board established under section 107 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3122).
``(4) One-stop center.--The term `one-stop center' means a
site described in section 121(e)(2) of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3151).
``(5) School counselor.--The term `school counselor' means
an individual who holds a valid school counseling license or
certification from a State educational agency.
``(6) Stakeholders.--The term `stakeholders' includes local
educational agencies, school counselors, secondary schools,
institutions of higher education (including community
colleges), eligible agencies (as defined under section 203 of
the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (20 U.S.C. 9202)),
the State workforce development board, the State agency
responsible for labor market information, other applicable
State agencies as determined by the Secretary, local workforce
development boards, area career and technical education schools
(as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006), local businesses and
industries, organizations offering apprenticeship programs,
tribal organizations, labor organizations, programs leading to
post-secondary credentials, including industry-recognized
credentials, other programs for career and technical education
(as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302)), industry
associations, and any other organizations, individuals or
persons that the Secretary determines appropriate to carry out
the purposes of this part.
``(7) Statewide career counseling framework.--The term
`statewide career counseling framework' means a framework that
encompasses the middle grades through grade 12 and
postsecondary education and that includes information on career
awareness, skills assessment, skills training, student interest
surveys, postsecondary education entrance requirements,
secondary school graduation requirements, high school
equivalency, adult education programs and services, financial
aid, institutions of higher education, community colleges,
programs leading to industry-recognized credentials, career and
technical education programs, internships, dual enrollment
programs, apprenticeships, and professional development
opportunities or career development training for school
counselors.
``(8) State workforce development board.--The term `State
workforce development board' means a State workforce
development board established under section 101 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111).
``(9) Tribal organization.--The term `tribal organization'
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
``(10) Industry-recognized credential.--The term `industry-
recognized,' used with respect to a credential, means a
credential that--
``(A) is sought or accepted by employers within the
industry or sector involved as a recognized, preferred,
or required credential for recruitment, screening,
hiring, retention, or advancement purposes; and
``(B) where appropriate, is endorsed by a
nationally recognized trade association or organization
representing a significant part of the industry or
sector.
``SEC. 4702. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.
``(a) Program Authorized.--From amounts appropriated to carry out
this part, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to
State educational agencies to enable the State educational agencies to
carry out the activities described in section 4704.
``(b) Duration; Amount; Extension.--
``(1) Duration.--Each grant under this section shall be for
a period of not more than 2 years.
``(2) Amount.--Each grant shall be of an amount not less
than $2,000,000 and not more than $5,000,000.
``(3) Extension.--The Secretary may extend a grant awarded
under this section for additional 3-year periods if the State
educational agency--
``(A) is achieving the intended outcomes of the
grant; and
``(B) shows continued engagement with stakeholders.
``SEC. 4703. APPLICATION.
``A State educational agency desiring a grant under this part shall
submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require. The application shall
include--
``(1) a description of the statewide career counseling
framework and implementation plan supported by not less than 5
stakeholders, of which at least 1 stakeholder shall be a local
business or industry or statewide industry organization and 1
shall be a local educational agency or secondary school; and
``(2) a description of how the State educational agency
will award subgrants and ensure that the activities described
in section 4704 are carried out.
``SEC. 4704. ACTIVITIES.
``(a) In General.--A State educational agency receiving a grant
under section 4702 shall use grant funds to--
``(1) implement comprehensive school career counseling
programs that align with the statewide counseling framework
described in the State educational agency's application;
``(2) identify and assess school counseling activities and
postsecondary options available within the State, and outside
the State as applicable;
``(3) identify regional workforce trends in collaboration
with entities at the State and regional level with expertise in
identifying such trends, such as State workforce development
boards, local workforce development boards, regional economic
development organizations, or State employment agencies;
``(4) train school counselors effectively to provide
students with current and relevant workforce information,
financial aid assistance, personal counseling, and academic
advising relevant to students' individual career and
postsecondary education goals;
``(5) develop and implement a process and infrastructure
for school counselors and school counselor programs to access
the statewide career counseling framework and information
regarding the regional workforce trends identified in paragraph
(4);
``(6) develop and implement professional development or
career development training certification programs for
counselors and other educators involved in preparing students
for postsecondary opportunities, which may include partnering
with an industry association that provides a nationally
recognized certification in career development;
``(7) develop a searchable method by which counseling
professional development opportunities from around the State
are collected, maintained, and disseminated to school
counselors;
``(8) establish, improve, or coordinate postsecondary
opportunities, which may include individual career planning,
personalized learning plans, registered apprenticeships,
internships, dual enrollment programs, programs leading to
industry-recognized credentials (including programs at a
secondary school), 2-year degree programs, 4-year degree
programs, and other applicable postsecondary opportunities;
``(9) provide recommendations and improve a local
educational agency's and other education service program
providers to out of school youth and adults curricula to better
align with workforce trends and available postsecondary
opportunities;
``(10) conduct other activities pertaining to the
administration of the statewide framework;
``(11) establish partnerships with one-stop centers, which
may include co-locating a one-stop center in a high school,
transporting students to local one-stop centers, or having one-
stop center career counselors and business liaisons assist
school counselors in hosting job fairs, career days, or other
such similar tasks;
``(12) leverage resources and emerging technologies that
are being developed by stakeholders to support the counseling
framework; and
``(13) evaluate secondary and postsecondary outcomes for
individuals served by the career counseling programs,
disaggregated by the subgroups of students described in section
1111(c)(2)(B).
``(b) Subgrants.--
``(1) In general.--A State educational agency that receives
a grant may carry out the activities described in subsection
(a) directly or through awarding subgrants, on a competitive
basis, to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities to
carry out any of the activities.
``(2) Application.--An eligible entity that desires a
subgrant under this subsection shall submit an application to
the State educational agency at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the State educational agency may
reasonably require, including a description of the
comprehensive school career counseling program for
participating schools and students that the eligible entity
proposes to develop and implement using subgrant funds.
``(c) Hiring of Personnel.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant under section 4702 may use the grant funds to hire additional
personnel to carry out the activities described in subsection (a).
``SEC. 4705. SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.
``Funds made available under this part shall be used to supplement,
and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local funds available to
carry out the activities supported under this part.
``SEC. 4706. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
``(a) SEA Reports.--Not later than 2 years after receiving a grant
under this part, a State educational agency shall submit a report to
the Secretary that includes, at a minimum--
``(1) a description of the use of funds received under this
part; and
``(2) the results of the evaluation conducted under section
4704(a)(13).
``(b) Secretary's Reports.--Not later than 3 years after the date
of enactment of the Counseling for Career Choice Act, and every 3 years
thereafter, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report on the progress made by the eligible
entities receiving grants under this part in implementing grant
activities, including the contents of the reports under subsection (a).
``SEC. 4707. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part
$40,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and $40,000,000 for each of the 4
succeeding fiscal years.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
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