Workforce Pell Grant Proposed Rule Listed in the Federal Register
Today, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to implement the new Workforce Pell Grant (WFP) program. The draft notice follows the consensus reached earlier this year during the department’s Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) negotiated rulemaking sessions. A draft of the proposed rules will be formally published on the Federal Register and will officially open for public comment on Monday, March 9. Comments and feedback on the proposal will be due back to ED within 30 days of the rule’s publication.
As previously reported, the program was created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and will extend federal Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in certain shorter-term, workforce-aligned programs lasting between 8 and 15 weeks (150 to 599 clock hours) at accredited postsecondary institutions. The proposed rules align closely with the program’s statutory requirements and place significant responsibility on states, specifically governors and state workforce boards, for approving eligible programs that are aligned with high-skill, high-wage, in-demand sectors. The program is currently set to be implemented on July 1, 2026.
Key provisions of the proposed rules include a new Value-Added Earnings (VAE) measure intended to hold programs accountable for delivering meaningful earnings gains for program completers, 70% placement and completion rates, and other eligibility criteria to ensure funded programs are high-quality.
Advance CTE will continue to analyze the impacts of the proposed rules and plans to provide feedback as part of this rulemaking process. Read more about the WFP NPRM here.
House Holds WIOA and AI Hearing
On Wednesday, the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing titled “Building an AI-Ready America: Strengthening Employer-Led Training.” The hearing featured testimony from witnesses representing Wake Technical Community College, CareerWise USA, Accenture, and the Wireless Infrastructure Association.
Witnesses broadly agreed that artificial intelligence (AI) literacy must be integrated across workforce programs and sectors rather than siloed as a standalone effort. They also called for more flexible funding structures to help institutions respond quickly to shifting labor market demands precipitated by AI and other emerging technologies.
The hearing also revealed significant partisan disagreement over the path forward for reauthorizing the Workforce Opportunity & Innovation Act (WIOA). Democrats urged Republicans to advance the bipartisan A Stronger Workforce for America Act from the prior Congress, while Republicans signaled interest in incorporating significant changes to this legislation, including the codification of recent interagency agreements transferring programs between ED and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Democrats and some witnesses argued that the Employment and Training Administration’s (ETA) capacity is already stretched and that these moves risk undermining these programs. Republicans did not directly respond to those concerns during the hearing and largely focused on policy changes they would like to see in future WIOA legislation, such as streamlining compliance requirements, increasing employer and state flexibility, and positioning WIOA reauthorization as a vehicle for AI workforce readiness.
With Democrats and Republicans now signaling different priorities for WIOA reauthorization, a pathway forward to updating this critical workforce development legislation remains uncertain. As these efforts and more continue to take shape, Advance CTE will continue to advocate for its priorities in this context. Click here to watch the full hearing on the committee website.
House Appropriations Discusses Role of Community Colleges
Elsewhere on Wednesday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing titled “Preparing for the Future: America’s Community Colleges.” The hearing featured community college leaders and advocates, who shared perspectives on the critical role these postsecondary institutions play in workforce development, access, and economic mobility. Witnesses highlighted community colleges’ central role in preparing learners for in-demand careers, including through Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, and called on Congress to protect and expand key investments in funding streams that directly support community and technical colleges nationwide. Access testimony documents and a recording of the hearing here.
This hearing coincides with the fiscal year 2027 (FY27) House Appropriations member request process. As previously reported, this is an annual opportunity for CTE leaders and advocates to formally request greater investment in CTE, education, and workforce programs supporting state systems and learner outcomes. Guidance and the submission portal are available here.
Advance CTE is continuing to advocate for robust funding for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act’s (Perkins V) investment in state CTE systems and programs.
Senate Commerce Examines AI Impact on the Workforce
On Tuesday, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Science, Manufacturing, and Competitiveness held a hearing titled “Less Hype, More Help: AI That Improves Safety, Productivity, and Care.” The hearing focused on practical, real-world applications for AI, moving beyond the abstract debate to examine how the expanding technology is already being deployed across industries to improve worker safety and boost productivity. Policymakers and witnesses discussed how AI is reshaping job tasks, skill requirements, and labor market demand across sectors that CTE programs serve, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, and construction. The hearing reflects a growing congressional interest in evidence-based AI policy that focuses on workforce outcomes. Watch the Senate hearing here.
House Small Business Committee Champions CTE
Last week, the House Small Business Committee held a hearing titled “Career and Technical Education: Developing the Future of Main Street Success.” The discussion examined how CTE programs can address talent challenges facing small businesses nationwide. Witness testimony highlighted the importance of employer engagement, especially with small employers, the importance of federal investment in CTE, and the need for greater parental and learner awareness of CTE pathways.
This hearing comes at the end of CTE Month, a bipartisan celebration of high-quality CTE programs, including those supported by the federal CTE legislation, Perkins V. Earlier this week, the Senate unanimously adopted the CTE Month resolution, and the House continues to seek support from representatives to co-sponsor it.
Click here to encourage your representatives to sign-on to the resolution in support of CTE Month!
