S. 235 — Apprenticeship Pathways Act of 2025

This section defines terms used in the Act, including (1) "apprenticeship" (i.e., registered under the National Apprenticeship Act); (2) "disconnected youth" (i.e., individuals who have attained age 16 but not age 25, are not regularly attending secondary school, area career and technical education school, or postsecondary school, and are not regularly employed during the six months preceding selection for an apprenticeship); (3) "industry intermediary" (i.e., an entity such as a business, nonprofit, or workforce intermediary that connects employers with partners to develop apprenticeships and promote access for secondary school students); (4) "pre-apprenticeship program" (i.e., a training model that prepares individuals for apprenticeships, meets National Apprenticeship Act standards, and is registered thereunder); and (5) "STEM" (i.e., science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). The section cross-references existing definitions for other terms, including "disability" (from the Americans with Disabilities Act), "early college high school," "educational service agency," "high school," "local educational agency," and "secondary school" (from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965), and "region" (from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act).

This section directs the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to award competitive contracts to industry intermediaries to promote development of and access to apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships in high-need occupations for secondary school students and certain other individuals (e.g., early college high school students, individuals age 18 or older meeting qualification standards, and pre-apprenticeship enrollees). In awarding contracts, the Secretary must give priority consideration to proposals targeting (1) students from secondary schools where 40% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act; (2) students served by rural high-need local educational agencies or educational service agencies (locale codes 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43); (3) students in high-poverty Census tracts; (4) disconnected youth; (5) Indian children, as defined in the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (i.e., unmarried persons under age 18 who are members of an Indian tribe, eligible for membership, or the biological child of a member); (6) women in building trades and technology; and (7) individuals with disabilities. Contract funds may be used for related activities (e.g., facilitating apprenticeships through collaborations, applicant assessment and training, progress tracking, support services including 50% wage payments for apprentices, coaching, and wraparound services such as child care assistance and tutoring) and goods/services (e.g., tuition assistance, equipment, tools, clothing, and technology). High-need occupations include building trades (e.g., carpentry, plumbing, electrician), architectural and engineering drafting, health care (e.g., emergency medical technicians, licensed practical nurses), teaching (including early childhood educators), technology (e.g., computer science, data science), and manufacturing.