To direct the Secretary of Labor to carry out a competitive grant program to support community colleges and career and technical education centers in developing immersive technology education and training programs for workforce development, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · May 11, 2023
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
This bill directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a competitive grant program awarding federal funds to community colleges and career and technical education centers for developing workforce training programs using immersive technologies like virtual reality, augmented reality, and advanced simulations. The grants, lasting up to five years with potential renewal, prioritize rural communities and aim to address workforce challenges by allowing workers to receive hands-on training in fields like manufacturing, healthcare, construction, and clean energy without leaving their local areas. Eligible recipients must partner with local workforce boards and can use grant funds to develop new training programs, create career pathways, train instructors, and ensure accessibility for people with disabilities and veterans. The bill gives priority to applications demonstrating alignment with state workforce plans, focus on in-demand occupations, and service to areas with high unemployment or rural populations. The Secretary of Labor must reserve one to five percent of annual appropriated funds for independent program evaluation and report biennially to Congress on program outcomes and best practices.
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