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Why This Matters
This bill directs the Department of Labor to award competitive grants to community colleges and career and technical education centers to develop immersive technology programs for workforce training.
Who this affects
Community colleges · Career and technical education centers · Students · Individuals with disabilities
What changes is this bill making?
1The Department of Labor must award competitive grants within one year to eligible entities to create career pathways using immersive technology.
2Immersive technology includes tools such as extended reality (XR), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) to blend digital content with the physical environment for skills training.
3Programs must meet accessibility requirements under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and related provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
4Grants last up to five years and an entity may receive only one grant for the same purpose.
5Priority is given to applicants partnering with employers, serving rural communities, targeting in-demand or declining industry sectors, or helping individuals with employment barriers.
6Grant recipients must report program performance to the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary must report to Congress every two years.
7The Department will reserve up to 5 percent of funds for rigorous, independent evaluations and to publish best practices online.
8The program is funded at $50,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2035.
