TECH Act

H.R. 8051, the Transforming Education through College and Hands-On Training (TECH) Act, would expand access to federal grant programs for qualified technical schools. Currently, many federal education grants are limited to traditional two-year and four-year institutions of higher education. This bill would allow postsecondary vocational institutions to participate in these same federal grant programs on an equal basis.

The bill defines eligible job training programs as career and technical education offerings of at least 150 clock hours but less than 600 clock hours of instruction, lasting between 8 and 15 weeks. These programs would need to be aligned with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations in critical sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and infrastructure. Programs must also provide students with recognized postsecondary credentials that employers value and that satisfy educational requirements for professional licensure or certification.

If enacted, the bill would require the Secretaries of Education and Labor to take action within 180 days to implement these changes across federal grant programs they administer. The legislation is currently under consideration by the House Committee on Education and Workforce.