Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2025
Congress Proposes New Grants to Expand Mentoring and Job Training for At-Risk Youth
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would create a new grant program to help schools and local organizations start or grow mentoring programs for young people. These programs would pair students with trained adults or peers who can help them navigate school and prepare for future careers.
- The program specifically targets youth who need extra support, including students who are failing classes, are chronically absent, have been involved with gangs, or live in high-poverty areas. It also prioritizes support for students with disabilities and those who have experienced childhood trauma.
- Mentors would provide more than just advice; they would help students with job training, resume writing, and finding internships or apprenticeships. The goal is to teach skills like problem-solving and communication while helping kids stay in school and plan for college or trade school.
- To ensure safety and quality, all mentors would be required to pass criminal background checks and receive special training. This training would cover topics like how to support children who have experienced trauma and how to be inclusive of students from all backgrounds.
- The Department of Labor would oversee the grants and study which mentoring strategies work best to help students succeed. Funding would be available for five years, from 2026 through 2030, to help communities build stable, long-term support systems for their youth.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
The bill encourages partnerships between mentoring programs and local businesses and the private sector to provide internship and career exploration activities. Small business owners in participating communities could benefit from a pipeline of young workers with job readiness training, communication skills, and hands-on work experience. However, participation would be voluntary.
Disabilities
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articles
Lowell responds to federal funding whiplash
The article discusses the impact of federal funding freezes and includes the introduction of the Mentoring to Succeed Act by Rep. Lori Trahan and colleagues as part of a broader effort to secure student support systems amidst national budget uncertainty.
What to Expect: Project 2025 and Trump’s Education Policy Agenda
This policy analysis explores legislative action in the 119th Congress, noting that the Mentoring to Succeed Act (S. 299) has been reintroduced to establish competitive grants for youth mentoring programs focused on workforce readiness and student success.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(14)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.