Grants for immersive technology education and training services programs (such as career pathways)

(a)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, from the amounts appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary of Labor shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to carry out immersive technology education and training services programs through activities described in subsection (b). (b)

Use of funds

An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use such grant for the creation or alignment, and implementation, of a career pathway that provides, through immersive technology, a sequence of education and training services that provides the necessary skills for employment leading to economic self-sufficiency, and that includes integrated education and training services that use immersive technology, including a program that—(1)is designed to increase the provision of training services for students (including individuals who are members of the Armed Forces or are veterans) in order to facilitate the entry of such students into in-demand industry sectors or occupations; (2) is accessible to individuals with barriers to employment, which shall be in accordance with the requirements under title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq.) and in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 188(a) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3248(a)); or (3)enables the training of instructors in the use of immersive technology for immersive technology education and training services programs.(c)

Duration of grants

A grant awarded to an eligible entity under this section shall be awarded for a period of not more than 5 years. An eligible entity awarded a grant under this section may not receive a subsequent grant for the same purpose.(d)

Application

An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including, in the case of a program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential, a description of the quality of the program leading to the credential.(e)

Priority

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to any eligible entity that—(1)is working with, or in carrying out a program to be funded with such a grant plans to work with, an employer that has demonstrated an interest in, or commitment to, the hiring of individuals who have obtained the necessary skills for employment as a result of the program; (2)includes a covered community college or an area career and technical education school; or(3)submits an application under subsection (d) that demonstrates 1 of the following (with additional priority given to an eligible entity that demonstrates more than 1 of the following):(A)Alignment with—(i)the State plan under section 102 or 103 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3112, 3113) of the State in which the eligible entity will be carrying out a program to be funded with such a grant;(ii)the local plan under section 108 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3123) of the local area in which the eligible entity will be carrying out such a program; or(iii)the State plan under section 122 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2342) of the State in which the eligible entity will be carrying out such a program.(B)Using quantitative data and evidence, the extent to which the program to be funded by such a grant will meet the needs of employers.(C)How such a program will target a specific in-demand industry sector or occupation.(D)How such a program will retrain workers from an industry sector that is experiencing decreasing employment at the national or State level.(E)How such a program will target and service individuals with barriers to employment.(F)How such a program will serve a rural community.(f)

Reports

(1)

Report to the Secretary

Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary a report, not later than the date that is 2 years after the beginning of the initial grant period for such grant, and annually thereafter (so the report is last submitted during the year following the final grant period for the grant) that includes a description of each program funded under the grant, including the levels of performance achieved for each indicator of performance under section 116(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A)(i)), disaggregated, with respect to the participants of such program, as described in section 116(d)(2)(B).(2)

Report to Congress

Not later than 2 years after the first grant is awarded under this section and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes a summary of the information submitted under paragraph (1) for the most recent 2-year period.(g)

Evaluation

The Secretary shall reserve not less than 1 percent and not more than 5 percent of any amounts made available for each fiscal year to conduct a rigorous, independent evaluation of, and provide technical assistance for, the programs carried out under this section.(h)

Best practices

The Secretary, in coordination each eligible entity that receives funds under a grant awarded under this section, not later than 30 days after the third year of the grant period, as described in subsection (c), shall—(1)establish a description of best practices for using immersive technology for immersive technology education and training services programs; and(2)publish such description of best practices on a publicly available website of the Department of Labor.(i)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Covered community college

The term covered community college means—(A)a public institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))), at which—(i)the highest degree awarded is an associate degree; or(ii)an associate degree is the most frequently awarded degree;(B)a branch campus of a 4-year public institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), if, at such branch campus—(i)the highest degree awarded is an associate degree; or(ii)an associate degree is the most frequently awarded degree;(C)a 2-year Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316(b)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)(3))); or(D)a degree-granting Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316(b)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)(3))) at which—(i)the highest degree awarded is an associate degree; or(ii)an associate degree is the most frequently awarded degree.(2)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means an industry or sector partnership, which shall include representatives of 1 or more of the following:(A)An institution of higher education.(B)A covered community college. (C)An area career and technical education school. (D)A postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(c))). (E)A consortium of such colleges, schools, or institutions.(3)

Immersive technology

(A)

In general

The term immersive technology means the technology of tools (including extended reality, virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality) that integrate the physical environment with digital content to support user engagement.(B)

Augmented Reality

The term augmented reality means an immersive technology tool that layers computer-generated imagery onto a user’s view of the physical world, thus providing a composite view. (C)

Mixed reality

The term mixed reality means an immersive technology tool that blends augmented reality and virtual reality, allowing users to experience simulated content within their physical worlds and to manipulate and interact with virtual elements in real time. (D)

Virtual reality

The term virtual reality means an immersive technology tool that occludes a user’s physical surroundings with a simulated environment. (4)

Immersive technology education and training services program

The term immersive technology education and training services program—(A)means a program of education and training services provided, in part or in whole, through immersive technology; and (B)includes a career pathway described in subsection (b) that is so provided.(5)

Rural

(A)

In general

The term rural community means a jurisdiction or population not located within an urban area.(B)

Urban area

In this paragraph, the term urban area, means a gathered jurisdiction that—(i)contains 50,000 or more people; or(ii)is comprised of clusters consisting of at least 2,500 gathered jurisdictions but contains fewer than 50,000 people. (6)

Training services

Notwithstanding paragraph (7), the term training services means training services as described in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102), provided through classroom instruction.(7)

WIOA terms

Except as otherwise provided in this section, any term used in this section that is defined in section 3 of that Act shall have the meaning given that term in that section 3.(j)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2035.