119-hr811

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 811 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 811

To establish a competitive grant program to support the establishment, 
 expansion, or enhancement of youth mentoring programs for eligible 
youth, and to provide for social and emotional learning, employability 
 skill development, career exploration, work-based learning, and other 
 youth workforce opportunities.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 January 28, 2025

 Ms. Schakowsky (for herself, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mrs. Trahan, and 
 Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was 
 referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To establish a competitive grant program to support the establishment, 
 expansion, or enhancement of youth mentoring programs for eligible 
youth, and to provide for social and emotional learning, employability 
 skill development, career exploration, work-based learning, and other 
 youth workforce opportunities.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is amended--

    (1) by redesignating 

section 172 as 

section 173; and

    (2) by inserting after 

section 171 the following:

``

SEC. 172. YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAMS.

 ``

    (a) 

=== Purpose ===
-The purpose of this section is to make assistance 
available for mentoring programs for eligible youth, in order to--
 ``

    (1) establish, expand, or support mentoring programs;
 ``

    (2) assist eligible youth enrolled in secondary schools 
 in developing cognitive and social-emotional skills; and
 ``

    (3) prepare eligible youth for success in high school, 
 postsecondary education, and the workforce.
 ``

    (b) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Community-based organization.--The term `community-
 based organization' means a youth-serving private nonprofit 
 organization (which may include a faith-based organization or 
 may be an affiliate of a national organization) that--
 ``
        (A) is representative of a community or a 
 significant segment of a community;
 ``
        (B) has demonstrated expertise and effectiveness 
 in workforce development; and
 ``
            (C) has demonstrated expertise--
 ``
            (i) in the planning and delivery of 
 education, training, and related activities 
 that are included in a career pathway;
 ``
            (ii) in forging coordination and 
 cooperation between educators and other members 
 of the community; and
 ``
            (iii) in development and implementation 
 of data systems that measure the progress of 
 students and outcomes of career pathways.
 ``

    (2) Covered institution of higher education.--The term 
 `covered institution of higher education' means--
 ``
        (A) an institution of higher education, as 
 defined in 

section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 
 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001); or
 ``
        (B) a postsecondary vocational institution, as 
 defined in 

section 102
            (c) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
 1002
            (c) ).
 ``

    (3) Covered partnership.--The term `covered partnership' 
 means a partnership between--
 ``
        (A) a community-based organization; and
 ``
        (B)
            (i) an industry or sector partnership;
 ``
            (ii) a local educational agency; or
 ``
            (iii) another public entity or private 
 employer, as appropriate.
 ``

    (4) Covered recognized postsecondary credential.--The 
 term `covered recognized postsecondary credential' means a 
 recognized postsecondary credential issued by a covered 
 institution of higher education.
 ``

    (5) Disability.--The term `disability' has the meaning 
 given the term for purposes of 

section 602

    (3) of the 
 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
 1401

    (3) ).
 ``

    (6) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a 
 community-based organization or covered partnership that--
 ``
        (A) provides mentoring services; and
 ``
        (B) provides youth workforce readiness 
 programming and career exploration.
 ``

    (7) Eligible youth.--The term `eligible youth' means--
 ``
        (A) an in-school youth;
 ``
        (B) a youth who meets all requirements to be an 
 in-school youth, except that--
 ``
            (i) in lieu of meeting the requirements 
 of 

section 129

    (a)

    (1)
            (C) 
            (ii) , the youth is in 
 secondary school; or
 ``
            (ii) in lieu of meeting the requirements 
 of 

section 129

    (a)

    (1)
            (C) 
            (iv) , the youth--
 ``
            (I) is failing academically or at 
 risk of dropping out of school, is 
 chronically absent, is enrolled in 
 fewer classes or for fewer credit hours 
 than a typical full-time student, has 
 changed schools 3 or more times in the 
 past 180 days, or has a history of 
 multiple suspensions; or
 ``
            (II) (aa) is a gang member or 
 resides in a community with high rates 
 of, and prevalence of risk factors 
 associated with, violence-related 
 injuries and deaths, and with other 
 relevant health and safety risks 
 (including high rates of poverty, 
 suicide, or substance use disorder 
 (including opioid use disorder)) or has 
 a parent or guardian who is struggling 
 with substance use disorder;
 ``

    (bb) has 1 or both parents 
 incarcerated; or
 ``
            (cc) has experienced 1 or more 
 adverse childhood experiences, 
 traumatic events, or toxic stressors, 
 as assessed through an evidence-based 
 screening;
 ``
            (C) an out-of-school youth; or
 ``
            (D) a youth who meets all requirements to be an 
 out-of-school youth, except that--
 ``
            (i) in lieu of meeting the requirements 
 of 

section 129

    (a)

    (1)
        (B)
            (ii) , the youth would be 
 placed in secondary school if the youth were 
 attending school; or
 ``
            (ii) in lieu of meeting the requirements 
 of 

section 129

    (a)

    (1)
        (B)
            (iii) , the youth is 
 described in subparagraph
        (B)
            (ii) 
            (II) .
 ``

    (8) Mentoring.--The term `mentoring' means a structured, 
 managed activity--
 ``
        (A) in which eligible youth are appropriately 
 matched with screened and trained adult or peer 
 volunteer mentors for consistent relationships;
 ``
        (B) that provides direct one-on-one, group, or 
 peer mentoring services that focus on--
 ``
            (i) providing enrichment;
 ``
            (ii) promoting educational or workforce 
 success;
 ``
            (iii) minimizing risk behaviors;
 ``
            (iv) promoting social skills and healthy 
 relationships; or
 ``
            (v) any combination of objectives 
 described in clauses
            (i) through
            (iv) ;
 ``
            (C) that involves meetings, events, and 
 activities on a regular basis, for a period of not less 
 than 1 year; and
 ``
            (D) that is intended to meet, in part, the social 
 and emotional development needs of an eligible youth, 
 the need of the eligible youth for involvement with a 
 caring and supportive adult, and the need of the 
 eligible youth for positive role models, connections, 
 and stability.
 ``

    (9) High school.--The term `high school' has the meaning 
 given the term in 

section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
 ``

    (10) Youth workforce readiness programming.--The term 
 `youth workforce readiness programming' means job training, or 
 a workforce development program providing an employment and 
 training activity, such as mentoring, an activity to promote 
 communication and problem-solving skills, career exploration, a 
 job readiness activity and certification, a summer job, or a 
 year-round job opportunity or apprenticeship, provided to 
 eligible youth.
 ``
            (c) Program Authorized.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--From amounts made available for this 
 section, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive 
 basis, to eligible entities to establish, expand, or support 
 mentoring programs in accordance with subsection
            (d) .
 ``

    (2) Duration.--A grant awarded under this section shall 
 be for a period not to exceed 3 years.
 ``
            (d) Authorized Activities.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--An eligible entity receiving a grant 
 under this section shall use grant funds to establish, expand, 
 or support not less than 1 mentoring program that--
 ``
        (A) is designed to assist eligible youth in 
 developing cognitive and social-emotional skills to 
 prepare the eligible youth for success in high school, 
 postsecondary education, and the workforce by linking 
 the eligible youth with mentors who--
 ``
            (i) have received mentor training, 
 including training on trauma-informed 
 practices, youth engagement, cultural 
 competency, and social-emotional learning; and
 ``
            (ii) have been screened using appropriate 
 reference checks and criminal background 
 checks, in accordance with the requirements of 
 subsection

    (e)

    (2)
        (F)
            (ii) ;
 ``
        (B) serves a population that includes eligible 
 youth living in or from underserved communities or 
 communities with employment disparities;
 ``
            (C) provides coaching and technical assistance to 
 mentors participating in the mentoring program;
 ``
            (D) seeks to--
 ``
            (i) reduce juvenile justice involvement 
 of eligible youth;
 ``
            (ii) foster positive relationships 
 between eligible youth and their peers, other 
 adults, and family members;
 ``
            (iii) develop the workforce readiness 
 skills of eligible youth by exploring paths to 
 employment, including encouraging students with 
 disabilities to explore transition services; 
 and
 ``
            (iv) increase the participation of 
 eligible youth in community service activities;
 ``
        (E) encourages eligible youth to set goals and 
 plan for their futures, including making plans and 
 identifying goals for postsecondary education and 
 participation in the workforce;
 ``
        (F) develops and carries out regular training for 
 mentors, including training on--
 ``
            (i) the impact of adverse childhood 
 experiences;
 ``
            (ii) trauma-informed practices and 
 interventions;
 ``
            (iii) cultural competency;
 ``
            (iv) social and emotional learning;
 ``
            (v) positive youth development and 
 engagement practices; and
 ``
            (vi) disability inclusion practices to 
 ensure access and participation by students 
 with disabilities;
 ``
        (G) works in coordination with a private employer 
 and a local educational agency with not less than 1 
 high-need school (as defined in 

section 2211

    (b) of the 
 Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
 U.S.C. 6631

    (b) );
 ``
        (H) recruits, screens, matches, trains, and, as 
 necessary, compensates mentors;
 ``
            (I) hires staff, as necessary, to perform or 
 support the objectives of the program; and
 ``
        (J) provides inclusive and accessible youth 
 engagement activities, such as--
 ``
            (i) career awareness activities, 
 including job site visits, informational 
 interviews, resume writing, interview 
 preparation, and networking;
 ``
            (ii) academic or postsecondary education 
 preparation activities, including trade or 
 vocational school visits, visits to 
 institutions of higher education, and 
 assistance in applying to institutions of 
 higher education;
 ``
            (iii) support for the use of career 
 pathways;
 ``
            (iv) paid and unpaid work experiences 
 that have as a component academic and 
 occupational education, which may include--
 ``
            (I) paid employment 
 opportunities;
 ``
            (II) pre-apprenticeship programs 
 and apprenticeship programs;
 ``
            (III) paid internships;
 ``
            (IV) job shadowing; and
 ``
            (V) on-the-job training 
 opportunities;
 ``
            (v) work-based learning (as defined in 
 

section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
 Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 
 2302)) that provides opportunities for the 
 application of employability skills and hands-
 on work experiences through partnerships among 
 eligible entities;
 ``
            (vi) occupational skill training, which 
 shall include priority consideration for 
 training programs that lead to covered 
 recognized postsecondary credentials that are 
 aligned with in-demand industry sectors or 
 occupations in the local area involved, if the 
 local board determines that the programs meet 
 the quality criteria described in 

section 123

    (a) ;
 ``
            (vii) activities that help youth prepare 
 for and transition to postsecondary education 
 and training; and
 ``
            (viii) services to help prepare eligible 
 youth for the workforce, such as--
 ``
            (I) leadership development 
 opportunities;
 ``
            (II) workforce or workforce 
 readiness opportunities;
 ``
            (III) financial literacy 
 education;
 ``
            (IV) entrepreneurial skills 
 training;
 ``
            (V) services that provide labor 
 market and employment information about 
 in-demand industry sectors or 
 occupations available in the local 
 area;
 ``
            (VI) activities to develop 
 fundamental workforce readiness skills 
 or to develop employability skills 
 (such as communication, creativity, 
 collaboration, and critical thinking) 
 that support social-emotional 
 development through every developmental 
 stage; and
 ``
            (VII) career exposure offered by 
 local industry or sector partnerships 
 to provide career assessments, 
 education, and career planning.
 ``

    (2) Additional activities.--An eligible entity receiving 
 a grant under this section may use grant funds to--
 ``
        (A) provide professional development (as defined 
 in 

section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
 Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302)) for 
 training educators and other providers of educational 
 services who participate in the mentoring program;
 ``
        (B) develop assets and resources that assist an 
 employer or groups of employers or sectors in working 
 with eligible youth;
 ``
            (C) in the case of an eligible entity that seeks 
 to implement the program through a partnership with 
 another eligible entity, establish the partnership; and
 ``
            (D) conduct program evaluation, including 
 acquiring and analyzing the data described in 
 subsection

    (g) .
 ``

    (3) Subgrants.--An eligible entity receiving a grant 
 under this section may, with the approval of the Secretary, use 
 grant funds to award subgrants to eligible organizations to 
 carry out activities described in paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) .
 ``

    (e) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may 
require, including--
 ``

    (1) a needs assessment that includes baseline data on the 
 measures described in subsection

    (g)

    (1)
        (B) ; and
 ``

    (2) a plan to establish, expand, or support a mentoring 
 program that meets the requirements of subsection
            (d) (1) , 
 including--
 ``
        (A) the targeted outcomes, mentor type, and 
 meeting frequency for the program;
 ``
        (B) a description of and data regarding the 
 eligible youth who will participate as mentees in the 
 program, including--
 ``
            (i) any age ranges to be served or any 
 other eligibility criteria; and
 ``
            (ii) how the eligible entity will ensure 
 that the program serves eligible youth living 
 in or from underserved communities or 
 communities with employment disparities, in 
 accordance with subsection
            (d) (1)
        (B) ;
 ``
            (C) the number of mentor-mentee matches proposed 
 to be established and maintained annually under the 
 program;
 ``
            (D) the capacity and expertise of the program to 
 serve eligible youth in a way that is responsive to 
 children and youth of color, expectant and parenting 
 youth, indigenous youth, youth who are lesbian, gay, 
 bisexual, transgender, or queer, and youth with 
 disabilities;
 ``
        (E) actions taken to ensure that the design of 
 the program reflects input from eligible youth;
 ``
        (F) an assurance that mentors supported under the 
 program are appropriately screened and have 
 demonstrated a willingness to comply with aspects of 
 the mentoring program, including--
 ``
            (i) a written screening plan that 
 includes all of the policies and procedures 
 used to screen and select mentors, including 
 eligibility requirements and preferences for 
 such applicants;
 ``
            (ii) a description of the methods to be 
 used to conduct criminal background checks on 
 all prospective mentors and the methods in 
 place to exclude mentors with convictions 
 directly related to child safety that occur 
 during the mentor's participation in the 
 program or in the 7-year period preceding the 
 mentor's participation; and
 ``
            (iii) a description of the methods to be 
 used to ensure that the mentors are willing and 
 able to serve as a mentor on a long-term, 
 consistent basis as defined in the application;
 ``
        (G) a description of--
 ``
            (i) the community-based organizations or 
 the covered partnerships through which the 
 eligible entity will implement the program; and
 ``
            (ii) if a covered partnership will assist 
 in implementing the program, the collaboration 
 and coordination that the community-based 
 organization in the partnership has carried out 
 or will carry out with other entities in the 
 partnership, related to that implementation;
 ``
        (H) in the case of a program that includes an 
 opportunity to earn a covered recognized postsecondary 
 credential, a description of the activities leading to 
 the covered recognized postsecondary credential; and
 ``
            (I) a budget detailing program activities and 
 administrative costs.
 ``

    (f) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that--
 ``

    (1) prior to receiving a grant, serve eligible youth with 
 the greatest need who reside in--
 ``
        (A) a high-poverty community;
 ``
        (B) a rural area; or
 ``
            (C) a community with high rates of, and 
 prevalence of risk factors associated with, violence-
 related injuries and deaths, and with other relevant 
 health and safety risks (including high rates of 
 poverty, suicide, or substance use disorder (including 
 opioid use disorder));
 ``

    (2) provide eligible youth participating in the mentoring 
 program supported under this section with opportunities for 
 postsecondary education preparation and career development, 
 including--
 ``
        (A) job training, professional development, work 
 shadowing, internships, networking, resume writing and 
 review, interview preparation, transition or vocational 
 rehabilitation services for students with disabilities, 
 application assistance and visits to institutions of 
 higher education, and leadership development through 
 community service, and relevant program elements 
 described in 

section 129
            (c) (2) ); and
 ``
        (B) partnerships with the private sector and 
 local businesses to provide internship and career 
 exploration activities and resources; and
 ``

    (3) consult and engage eligible youth in the development, 
 design, and implementation of the mentoring program, including 
 by demonstrating such consultation and engagement in the 
 application submitted under subsection

    (e) and agreeing to 
 continue such consultation after receiving the grant.
 ``

    (g) Reporting Requirements.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the end of 
 each year of the grant period, an eligible entity receiving a 
 grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary a report 
 that--
 ``
        (A) includes--
 ``
            (i) the number of eligible youth and 
 mentors, and the demographics of eligible youth 
 and mentors, who participated in the mentoring 
 program that was supported with grant funds;
 ``
            (ii) data on the academic achievement, 
 dropout rates, truancy, absenteeism, outcomes 
 of arrests for violent crime, full-time 
 employment, part-time employment, and 
 postsecondary education enrollment of eligible 
 youth participating in the program; and
 ``
            (iii) data on social-emotional 
 development of eligible youth participating in 
 the program, as assessed with a validated 
 social-emotional assessment tool;
 ``
        (B) may include indicators such as achievement of 
 career competencies, or successful completion of 
 internships, apprenticeships, or work-based learning 
 opportunities, or high school graduation; and
 ``
            (C) includes any other information that the 
 Secretary may require to evaluate the success of the 
 mentoring program.
 ``

    (2) Student privacy.--An eligible entity shall ensure 
 that the report submitted under paragraph

    (1) is prepared in a 
 manner that protects the privacy rights of each eligible youth 
 in the same manner as is required for students under 

section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g; 
 commonly known as the `Family Educational Rights and Privacy 
 Act of 1974').
 ``

    (h) Mentoring Program Resources and Technical Assistance.--The 
Secretary shall work with the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile 
Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Secretary of Education to--
 ``

    (1) refer eligible entities receiving grants under this 
 section to the National Mentoring Resource Center to obtain 
 resources on best practices and research related to mentoring 
 programs and to request no-cost training and technical 
 assistance; and
 ``

    (2) provide such eligible entities with information 
 regarding transitional services for eligible youth returning 
 from correctional facilities and transition services for 
 students with disabilities.
 ``
            (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.''.

    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in 

section 1

    (b) of 
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is amended by striking the 
item relating to 

section 172 and inserting the following:

``

Sec. 172. Youth mentoring programs.
``

Sec. 173. Authorization of appropriations.''.

SEC. 3. STUDY ON MENTORING PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Labor, acting through the Chief 
Evaluation Officer of the Department of Labor, shall conduct a study 
to--

    (1) identify successful mentoring programs and evidence-
 based strategies for administering and monitoring such 
 programs;

    (2) evaluate the role of mentors in promoting cognitive 
 development and social-emotional learning to enhance academic 
 achievement and to improve workforce readiness; and

    (3) evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program under 
 

section 172 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, as 
 added by 

section 2, on student academic outcomes and youth 
 career development.

    (b) Timing.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Chief Evaluation 
Officer, shall submit the results of the study to the appropriate 
congressional committees.
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