$100M Annual Grants Proposed for Youth Job Training; Bill Also Revives Local Youth Councils

This bill, the 'Youth Workforce Readiness Act of 2025,' sets out to create a new federal grant program aimed squarely at getting young people ready for the working world. Starting in fiscal year 2026, it proposes authorizing $100 million annually for five years. These funds would go to large, national youth-serving organizations to develop and run workforce readiness programs specifically designed for kids and teens aged 6 to 18 during 'out-of-school-time' – think after school, weekends, and summers. The core idea is to build a bridge between education and employment by funding practical, skill-building activities outside the regular school day.

Real-World Skills Beyond the Classroom

So, what would these programs actually do? For older participants (specifically ages 15 and up, according to Section 7), the bill outlines a pretty comprehensive menu. We're talking about tangible experiences like paid and unpaid internships, summer jobs, pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship opportunities, and job shadowing – all designed to give teens a real taste of different careers. Think hands-on projects, maybe learning coding basics at a tech workshop or getting familiar with tools on a simulated construction site through partnerships with local industries.

The programs would also offer occupational skills training, ideally leading to actual credentials recognized by employers, especially in fields where workers are needed ('in-demand industry sectors'). Beyond job-specific skills, the activities include mentoring that lasts at least a year, financial literacy education (how does a paycheck work?), entrepreneurship training, leadership development through things like community service, and even counseling services. The goal is to equip teens not just with technical abilities but also the 'soft skills' – like communication and problem-solving – needed to succeed.

How the Program Works: Funding and Partnerships

Who gets to run these programs? Section 5 specifies that grants go to established, national youth organizations – the kind with chapters or affiliates active in at least 35 states. These organizations would need to apply to the Secretary of Labor, detailing how they'll reach youth fairly across both cities and rural areas, including those in underserved communities (Section 6). A key piece here is collaboration. Grantees often need to form 'covered partnerships' involving local schools, industry groups, and potentially employers (defined in Section 3) to deliver the programs effectively.

To keep things on track, the bill mandates evaluation (Section 8). Programs have to be based on actual community needs and track participant success using measures like attendance, grades, skill attainment, and graduation rates. These evaluations aren't just paperwork; they'll directly influence whether a program gets its grant renewed. The total funding authorized is $100 million per year from fiscal year 2026 through 2030 (Section 9).

Bringing Youth Voices Back to Local Planning

There's another significant piece to this legislation: it amends the existing Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to bring back 'youth councils' (Section 10). Essentially, every local workforce development board – the groups that help guide job training efforts in communities – would be required to establish a dedicated youth council. These councils, made up of people with expertise in youth services, education, labor, and potentially young people themselves, would advise the main board on how to best serve young job seekers.

This isn't just symbolic. The bill requires state and local WIOA plans to specifically describe how they're incorporating the youth councils' recommendations. Annual reports would also need to detail activities based on this input. The idea is to ensure that local workforce strategies genuinely reflect the needs and perspectives of the young people they're meant to help.

The Bottom Line

If enacted, this Act represents a focused investment in preparing young people, particularly teenagers, for future careers through structured, out-of-school opportunities. It could mean more access to meaningful work experiences, skill development aligned with local job needs, and supportive services like mentoring for participating youth. By requiring partnerships and re-establishing youth councils, it also aims to better integrate youth workforce development into the broader education and economic systems. While the focus for many activities is on teens 15 and older, the inclusion of youth down to age 6 means programs will need careful, age-appropriate design, particularly at the younger end.