(a)
In general— From the amounts appropriated to carry out this Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall award grants to 10 eligible entities to carry a program described in subsection (c) for eligible students.
(b)
Application requirements— An eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary as such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(c)
Uses of funds— An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use such grant to carry out a program under which each eligible student participating in the program—
(1)
during grades 11 and 12 at a secondary school served by the local educational agency in the eligible entity, takes STEM courses and courses that prepare such student for community college;
(2)
upon graduating from the secondary school, enrolls in a course of study related to the manufacturing field at the community college in the eligible entity; and
(3)
upon receiving an associate’s degree from the community college, enrolls and participates, for a 2-year period, in—
(A)
the State apprenticeship program in the eligible entity; or
(B)
the joint-labor management training program in the eligible entity.
(d)
Eligible students— To be eligible to participate in a program described in subsection (c), a student shall, prior to participating in the program, demonstrate academic ability and a commitment to pursue a career in a manufacturing field or other vocational field.
(e)
Definitions— In this section:
(1)
Community college— The term “community college” has the meaning given the term in section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(f)).
(2)
Eligible entity— The term “eligible entity” means a partnership among—
(A)
a local educational agency;
(B)
a community college; and
(C)
a State apprenticeship program or a joint-labor management training program.
(3)
ESEA terms— The terms “local educational agency”, “secondary school”, and “State” have the meanings given the terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (
20 U.S.C. 7801).
(4)
Secretary— The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Education.
(5)
State apprenticeship program— The term “State apprenticeship program” means an apprenticeship program that provides an apprenticeship with an employer in the manufacturing field to students with an associate’s degree related to the field of manufacturing.
(6)
STEM— The term “STEM” means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.