Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Readiness Act of 2026

(a) Establishment. The Secretary of Labor, acting through the Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship, shall establish a program to award grants on a competitive basis to sponsors or sponsor partnerships between eligible entities to support apprenticeships in artificial intelligence-impacted industries to—

(1) develop learning standards for such apprenticeships;

(2) develop instructional materials for use within such apprenticeships on—

(A) artificial intelligence ethics;

(B) algorithmic bias; and

(C) artificial intelligence accessibility;

(3) provide supportive services (as defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102(59))) for participants in such apprenticeships, including—

(A) reimbursement or stipends for child care expenses incurred by participants during the period of such apprenticeship; and

(B) reimbursement or stipends for transportation expenses incurred by participants during the period of such apprenticeship; and

(4) provide training to supervisors of apprentices including—

(A) inclusive mentorship practices; and

(B) methods to ensure that a human retains oversight and decision-making authority over outputs generated by artificial intelligence.

(b) Eligible entities. In this section, the term eligible entities means any of the following entities, or a partnership of 2 or more of the following entities, provided that no fewer than 1 of such entities be representatives of entities listed in paragraphs (1) through (4):

(1) an institution of higher education.

(2) an area career and technical education school.

(3) a State or local education board.

(4) a State or local workforce board.

(5) an employer-related nonprofit organization.

(6) a workforce intermediary.

(7) an employer or employer consortia.

(8) an industry or sector partnership.

(c) Priority. In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to partnerships that demonstrate—

(1) active recruitment of apprentices from underserved communities;

(2) partnerships with community-based organizations, workforce development boards, or educational institutions serving underserved communities (as defined in section 3 of this Act); or

(3) the provision of support services for apprentices from underserved communities, including the support services described in subsection (a)(3).

(d) Pre-Apprenticeships and youth apprenticeships

(1) Grants authorized. In addition to grants awarded under subsection (a), the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship, shall award grants on a competitive basis to State apprenticeship agencies or apprenticeship intermediaries, as determined by the Secretary, to develop artificial intelligence-related pre-apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship programs in artificial intelligence-impacted industries.

(2) Authorized uses of funds. A grantee receiving a grant under this subsection may use such grant to—

(A) develop curriculum and instructional materials for pre-apprenticeship programs that prepare individuals for entry into registered apprenticeships in artificial intelligence-impacted industries;

(B) develop learning standards for youth apprenticeship programs aligned with artificial intelligence-augmented occupations;

(C) provide outreach and recruitment services to individuals from underserved communities to encourage participation in pre-apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship programs; and

(D) provide support services as described in subsection (a)(3), where appropriate, to participants in such programs.

(3) Priority. In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to State apprenticeship agencies and intermediaries that demonstrate partnerships with—

(A) registered apprenticeship sponsors receiving grants under subsection (a); and

(B) local educational agencies or institutions of higher education serving underserved communities.

(e) Program requirements. Each partnership receiving a grant under subsection (a) and each grantee receiving a grant under subsection (c) shall—

(1) in the case of a partnership supporting a registered apprenticeship, register any new apprenticeship occupation or update any existing apprenticeship standard in accordance with parts 29 and 30 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation);

(2) ensure that related instruction and credentials earned through programs funded under this section are designed to be transferable toward a recognized postsecondary credential, consistent with the requirements of the Higher Education Act; and

(3) report participant outcomes to the Secretary of Labor using Standard Occupational Classification codes, consistent with the reporting requirements under section 101(e)(2) of this Act.

(f) Reports

(1) Partnership reports. Not later than 1 year after the date on which such grant is awarded and annually thereafter during the period of such grant, each partnership receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary of Labor a report describing the activities undertaken and outcomes achieved by such sponsor using such grant during the 1-year period covered by such report.

(2) Reports to Congress. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Labor shall submit to Congress a report describing the grants awarded under this section during the 1-year period covered by such report and the outcomes achieved during such 1-year period by partnerships receiving such grants.

(g) Compliance. Each partnership receiving a grant under this section shall be subject to the requirements under section 6.