Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act

Summary#

This bill would create two federal grant programs to help colleges that run construction- and manufacturing-focused registered apprenticeship programs. The Department of Education, working with the Department of Labor, would award grants to eligible colleges to pay for outreach and for expanded advising and student supports. Each college could receive up to $500,000 per grant. Outreach grants would fund communications and relationship building with high schools, local businesses and employers (with a focus on rural, exurban, and suburban areas), and local workforce boards and apprenticeship intermediaries. Student support grants would fund expanded academic advising (career advising, mentoring, ESL supports, information systems) and student support services (health and family services, substance abuse and mental health counseling, support for first-generation students, childcare, and similar services). The student support grants require recipient colleges to report on activities, participation, and program progress, with reports due within 180 days after the grant activities end. The bill defines eligible institutions and the apprenticeship programs covered, and sets priorities for outreach to rural students, first-generation students, minority students, nontraditional students, and other underrepresented groups.

What it means for you#

  • If you run or attend a college that sponsors a construction or manufacturing registered apprenticeship program, your college could apply for grants to fund outreach or student advising and support.
  • High school students and their families could see more information about apprenticeship options from participating colleges.
  • Local employers, especially in rural and suburban areas, may receive more direct outreach to build hiring relationships with program graduates.
  • Students in the covered programs may receive more advising, mentoring, ESL help, mental health or substance-use counseling, and childcare support if their college gets a grant.
  • If you are not connected to a construction or manufacturing apprenticeship program, the bill would likely have little direct effect on you.

Expenses#

  • Grant cap per eligible college: $500,000 for each program (outreach grants and student support grants).
  • Section 2 (Community Outreach Grant Program): $5,000,000 authorized each fiscal year 2026 through 2030.
  • Section 3 (Student Support Grant Program): $5,000,000 authorized each fiscal year 2026 through 2030.
  • Combined authorization across both sections: $10,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026–2030 (total authorized over five years = $50,000,000).
  • No publicly available information on actual appropriations, spending, or broader budgetary effects beyond these authorizations.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.