Congressman John Carter (TX-31) has introduced the More Choice for Career Training Act in the House. The legislation would make more job-training, apprenticeships, and certification programs eligible for Pell Grant dollars.

“With skyrocketing costs of higher education, more students are turning towards career and technical education for well-paying jobs without a four-year college degree,” said Congressman Carter. “Pell grants help more than 7 million low-income students pursue their education. Expanding the availability of this non-debt income to vocational programs will provide students more choices, while also filling gaps in America’s workforce. At a time when our nation is facing a $1.6 trillion student debt crisis, students need reliable alternatives to four-year college degrees and their own pathway to success.”

The bill instructs the Department of Education to develop a new certification pathway to allow job training, apprenticeship, and certification programs to be eligible to receive Pell Grant dollars. Determinations of program eligibility are based upon specific student outcome targets including:

• Program completion rate.
• Job placement rate within 90 days of program completion.
• Job placement rate within 12 months of program completion.
• Graduate median starting salary.
• Graduate median salary 5 years after program completion.
• Graduate average starting salary.
• Graduate average salary 5 years after program completion.

The More Choice for Career Training Act is the House companion bill to Senate legislation filed by U.S. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri.

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