The Promoting Employment and Lifelong Learning Act of 2025 creates a new "Workforce Pell Grant" program to help students attend short-term job training programs. Starting in the 2026–2027 academic year, eligible students can receive these grants to pursue workforce development programs lasting 150 to 600 clock hours (8 to 15 weeks) in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations approved by their state governor. To qualify, programs must have at least a 70 percent completion rate, a 70 percent job placement rate within six months of graduation, and tuition costs that don't exceed the earnings gains students achieve within three years of completing the program. Students can receive Workforce Pell Grants through both traditional colleges and other approved training providers, but cannot simultaneously receive both a Workforce Pell Grant and a traditional Pell Grant. The bill requires programs to be stackable with college credentials and to include pathways for students to continue into certificate or degree programs.
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