Job Corps Gets an Overhaul: Bill Updates Eligibility, Adds Performance Metrics, Extends Contracts

This bill, the Strengthening Job Corps Act of 2025, aims to revamp the Job Corps program by amending the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It tackles several key areas: who qualifies for the program, how campuses are run and evaluated, student conduct rules, and how the program is funded and staffed.

Who Gets In and How?

The legislation tweaks eligibility for Job Corps. The main age range stays at 16-24, but it allows waivers up to age 28 for individuals with disabilities or those who've been involved in the justice system. There's a clear focus on recruiting 'opportunity youth' – young people needing foundational skills – including those who are low-income, pregnant, or living in designated opportunity zones. Veterans face fewer hurdles, only needing to meet the minimum age requirement. The bill also pushes for smoother application processes, requiring Job Corps to help create joint applications that cover Job Corps, YouthBuild, and other youth workforce programs.

Running the Show: Performance and Pathways

How Job Corps campuses are managed is getting a shake-up. Going forward, contracts to operate campuses will be awarded based on 'best value,' heavily weighing student outcomes like job placement rates, earnings after graduation, and credentials earned. This puts pressure on operators to deliver real results. To provide more stability, these contracts are extended from two years to four. High-performing campuses (top 25%) get recognized. Additionally, there's a specific pathway created for graduates of Civilian Conservation Centers (CCCs), allowing the Forest Service to hire them directly – a potentially significant boost for grads interested in conservation careers.

Campus Life: New Rules & Test Runs

Every Job Corps campus will need a formal behavioral management plan. This includes clear conduct standards, strategies for positive behavior, and disciplinary actions. Notably, the bill mandates a zero-tolerance policy for violence and illegal activity on campus, requiring agreements with local law enforcement for reporting. On the flip side, graduates get a little breathing room, allowed to stay on campus for up to a month after finishing the program to help with their transition. For campuses struggling with performance, the bill authorizes 'experimental projects' to test improvements. However, it also allows the Secretary to waive certain rules to facilitate these projects – the specifics of what can be waived aren't fully detailed, which raises questions about potential impacts on program standards during these experiments.

Following the Money: Pay, Staffing, and Funding

The bill brings Job Corps operators and service providers under the Service Contract Act. This means wages for instructional staff must meet or exceed levels determined by the Secretary of Labor, updated annually – a move aimed at ensuring fair compensation. Staffing plans must detail these wages and benefits. Financially, the act requires annual reconciliation of funds, allowing unspent money to be redirected to needed projects rather than expiring. Finally, it authorizes significant funding, starting at over $1.8 billion for fiscal year 2026 and rising to nearly $2.15 billion by 2031, including a dedicated $107.8 million each year specifically for campus construction and upgrades.