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# Summary The 21st Century Workforce Partnerships Act establishes two grant programs to strengthen connections between education and employment. The first program awards three-year grants (renewable for two additional years) to school districts and groups of school districts to create career pathways and job exploration programs in middle and high schools that partner with local businesses and industries. These grants require that businesses contribute resources equal to or exceeding what schools and the federal government contribute. At least 15 percent of available funds must go to rural school districts and at least 5 percent to schools serving significant numbers of Native American or Native Hawaiian students. The second program provides similar grants to community colleges, tribal colleges, and some four-year public universities to develop training programs in partnership with employers, with a focus on serving students with barriers to employment and ensuring geographic diversity including rural areas. The bill authorizes the Department of Education's Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education to administer both programs, provide technical assistance to applicants, and designate staff specifically to support rural and Native American-serving schools. Funding levels and specific appropriations amounts are not specified in the legislation.

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