The Strengthening Job Corps Act of 2024 reauthorizes and reforms the federal Job Corps program, which provides job training and education to low-income youth ages 16 to 24. The bill expands eligibility to include individuals with disabilities and justice-involved youth up to age 28, as well as low-income individuals and residents of economically distressed areas. It reforms how Job Corps campuses are selected and evaluated, requiring operators to demonstrate strong student outcomes, fair wages, and safe learning environments, while giving campus directors more authority to hire staff and partner with local organizations without federal approval for each decision.
The legislation strengthens worker protections by requiring Job Corps operators to comply with federal prevailing wage laws and establishes new behavioral policies focused on positive interventions rather than purely punitive measures. It also improves transparency and accountability through expanded data reporting on student outcomes, safety incidents, and campus performance rankings. The bill authorizes approximately $1.81 billion for fiscal year 2025, increasing to $2.15 billion by 2030, with $107.8 million annually dedicated to constructing and upgrading Job Corps facilities across the country.
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