H.R. 6606 — Opportunities for Success Act of 2025

This section revises the Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) as follows: (1) authorizes appropriations of $1,500,000,000 for FY2027, $1,750,000,000 for FY2028, $2,000,000,000 for FY2029, $2,250,000,000 for FY2030, and $2,500,000,000 for FY2031 and each succeeding fiscal year (previously, such sums as may be necessary for FY2009 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years); (2) expands eligible community service activities to include child development and early learning, including Head Start and Early Head Start programs, and adds work-based learning providing students experience in any previously eligible activity regardless of whether academic credit is awarded; and (3) defines work-based learning as sustained interactions with industry, community, or academic professionals in real workplace settings (including on-campus opportunities, internships, apprenticeships, and other specified experiences) aligned with a student's field of study. (As background, the FWS program provides funds to institutions of higher education for part-time employment of eligible students with financial need, including community service jobs.)

This section revises the allocation formula for Federal Work-Study Program funds (appropriated under section 441(b)) by replacing section 442 in its entirety. **(a) Reservations.** (1) Beginning in FY2027, if appropriations exceed $700 million, the Secretary reserves the lesser of 20% of the excess or $150 million for "improved institutions" (defined as participating institutions in the top 75% for Federal Pell Grant recipient completion rates, with Pell recipient percentages and annual completion rate increases exceeding those of at least 50% of participating institutions), allocating pro rata based on the institution's share of prior-year Pell grants awarded at improved institutions (or a minimum of $5,000 per institution). (Completion rates are measured within 150% of normal program time, including transfers to other Title IV programs.) (2) An additional $30 million is reserved for grants under section 449. (3) Funds returned by improved institutions are reallocated to other improved institutions on the same basis. (4) The Secretary publishes annual lists of funded improved institutions with their Pell percentages, completion rates, and two-year comparisons. **(b) Allocation formula for FY2027-2031.** From remaining funds, the Secretary allocates to each institution the greater of a declining percentage of its FY2026 allocation (90% in FY2027; 80% in FY2028; 60% in FY2029; 40% in FY2030; 20% in FY2031) or its "fair share" amount under subsection (d). If funds are insufficient, allocations are ratably reduced; additional appropriations restore them pro rata.

This section revises institutional requirements and permissible uses of funds under the Federal Work-Study program (20 U.S.C. 1087-53), which provides grants to institutions of higher education for part-time employment of eligible students to help finance postsecondary costs. Specifically, in subsection (b), it (1) requires institutions, beginning in FY2028, to use at least 3% of funds for students with exceptional need (as defined in section 413C(c)(2)) employed in work-based learning during qualified nonenrollment periods, at least 7% for work-based learning positions, and at least 7% for community service (including at least one tutoring or family literacy project), with waivers available for hardship; (2) increases the per-student administrative allowance to $500 (from $300), except as provided under new subsection (f); (3) provides a 100% federal share of wages for institutions eligible under title III or V of the Higher Education Act; (4) requires priority hiring for students with exceptional need and students who are homeless youth (per the McKinney-Vento Act) or foster care youth; (5) replaces references to "vocational" with "career"; (6) adds assurances for reasonable travel reimbursement (excluding vehicle purchase or lease), use of student/employer surveys and data to align jobs with educational or career goals, and prioritization of funds under section 442(a)(1)(A) for students with exceptional need in work-based learning; and (7) makes conforming and technical changes. In subsection (c), it limits use of funds for off-campus community service jobs to no more than 25% without a waiver or 50% with a waiver; requires jobs to complement and reinforce students' educational or career goals; and adds an assurance for travel reimbursement. In subsection (d)(1), it changes the use of funds for community service from mandatory (where applicable under prior subsection (b)(2)(A)) to permissive.

This section amends the Federal Work-Study Program by (1) authorizing institutions, in addition to existing carryover authority, to permit students who completed the previous award period to continue earning unearned portions of their work-study award if any reduction in the student's need is accounted for and the student is employed in a work-based learning position; and (2) increasing from 10% to 20% (both instances) the specified carryover amounts available to institutions.

This section revises the Job Location and Development (JLD) program under Federal Work-Study, which enables institutions to use a portion of their allocation to locate and develop off-campus jobs (including community service) for work-study students, by (1) in subsection (a), increasing the maximum amount an institution may use for JLD to 20% or $150,000 of its allocation (from 10% or $75,000) and replacing "vocational" with "career" jobs; and (2) in subsection (b), replacing prior requirements with new assurances to prioritize students with exceptional need (i.e., those with adjusted gross family income not exceeding $35,000, as defined in section 413C(c)(2)) and Federal Work-Study recipients for such jobs and to use funds for work-based learning positions, and expanding reporting to include the number of students (particularly those with exceptional need who are Federal Work-Study recipients) employed in work-based learning positions through the program.

This section revises the authority for Federal Work-Study institutions to use up to 10% of funds made available under section 489(a) and attributable to the institution's expenditures under part C of title IV (Federal Work-Study Programs) for community service-learning programs, specifying allowable activities as (1) developing mechanisms to ensure academic quality of the student experience; (2) ensuring student access to educational resources, expertise, and supervision; (3) aligning programs with students' educational or career goals to the maximum extent practicable; (4) collaborating with public and private nonprofit agencies and programs under the National and Community Service Act of 1990; and (5) recruiting and compensating students, including for training time and reasonable travel directly related to the community service (excluding vehicle purchase or lease).

This section amends the work colleges program under the Federal Work-Study Program (i.e., designation of eligible institutions to use up to 100% of Federal Work-Study funds for comprehensive student work-learning-service programs that integrate academics, work, and service) by (1) inserting "student" before "work-learning-service program" in subsections (a), (b)(2)(D), (e)(1)(C), and (e)(1)(D); (2) requiring first-time applicants to submit applications at least five months prior to the due date for returning applicants; (3) revising institutional eligibility criteria in subsection (e)(1)(B) to require accreditation by a Secretary-recognized agency, operation of a work-study program under this part for at least two years preceding determination, and operation of a comprehensive student work-learning-service program for at least two years preceding determination; and (4) adding a requirement in subsection (e)(2)(A) that the work-learning-service program be a four-year, degree-granting program (with redesignation of prior subparagraphs).

This section establishes a pilot grant program under the Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)—which provides part-time jobs to students with financial need to help pay college costs—under which the Secretary of Education awards grants of up to $1 million to eligible FWS-participating institutions for up to four years (renewable for two years) to establish or expand work-based learning positions. From FWS appropriations under section 441(b) for a fiscal year—after reservations required under section 442(a)(1)—the Secretary reserves $30 million to fund the grants. Grant applications must include a plan to (1) benefit students demonstrating exceptional need; (2) partner with high-demand employers in in-demand industry sectors and occupations; (3) involve employers in program evaluation; (4) track academic and employment outcomes; and (5) sustain the program post-grant. Grant funds must pay wages for at least 12-week positions providing at least 15 hours per week during enrollment (30 hours during nonenrollment, waivable), limiting administrative work to 25%, including employer-provided career coaching, and offering student-employer networking. Grantees must report completion rates and student outcomes (e.g., program satisfaction, job types and duties, post-program employment in in-demand sectors).

This section establishes requirements for the Secretary of Education, not later than 1 year after enactment, to develop in consultation with work-study administrators, employers, and students three consumer-tested electronic surveys for the Federal Work-Study program (FWS): (1) a student survey measuring satisfaction, on-the-job training and supervision, institutional assistance, job alignment with educational and career goals, time management, program metrics (e.g., award amounts, average weekly hours and wages, job types and locations, academic impact, demographics), and complaints; (2) an employer survey measuring satisfaction, student preparation, recommendations for academic improvements, complaints, skill gaps, and institutional outreach; and (3) an institutional survey, administered at least every 4 years, on employer recruitment, job location and matching (including shares for work-study recipients and students with exceptional need), institutional contributions, award factors, and student acceptance rates. The section further directs the Secretary to develop an online portal for survey access and results compilation and to submit quadrennial reports to Congress analyzing redacted survey data on job types, hours and wages, awards, skill preparation, satisfaction and complaints, institutional outreach to employers and students, job alignment with academic or career goals, and program improvement recommendations.

This section sets the effective date for amendments made by sections 1 through 10 to the Higher Education Act of 1965 as October 1, 2026, for fiscal years beginning on or after such date.

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study, as soon as practicable after enactment, on best practices for assisting students participating in the Federal Work-Study program under part C of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 with (1) connecting to off-campus employers; (2) procuring work-based learning opportunities; (3) procuring employment aligned with educational or career goals; (4) locating employment through job location and development programs; (5) procuring employment in in-demand industry sectors or occupations (as defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act); (6) balancing employment with academics to improve graduation and completion rates; and (7) with respect to students with exceptional need (as defined in section 413C(c)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965)—(A) locating and coordinating work-study employment during qualified nonenrollment periods; (B) increasing program participation; and (C) limiting the need for additional outside employment. Not later than two years after enactment, the Comptroller General must submit to Congress, and make publicly available on the Government Accountability Office website, a report summarizing the study's findings.