TECH Act

Key Points

• The TECH Act would allow technical schools to apply for federal grants that are currently only available to traditional 2-year and 4-year colleges. This includes funding for programs that help low-income students, provide child care for student parents, and improve school facilities.
• To be eligible, technical schools must offer short-term training programs—lasting between 8 and 15 weeks—that prepare students for "essential" jobs. These include careers in healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and national security.
• The bill aims to fill job openings in critical industries where many current workers are reaching retirement age. It requires the government to help these schools create a steady flow of workers ready to enter high-demand, high-wage careers.
• If passed, the Department of Education and the Department of Labor would have six months to update their rules. They would have to make sure technical schools can compete for money on the same level as traditional universities.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.