Youth & Young Adult Policy Update 02-27-2026

News at NYEC:  

• Join NYEC in Houston, TX for Rooted in Action: 2026 Annual Forum! The National Youth Employment Coalition will head to Houston, TX from March 30 – April 1. Attend sessions from our policy track such as Shaping Policy, Shaping Futures: The Power of Youth Advocacy for Impact and Career Growth presented by Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of What We All Deserve, Fiona Lu. 

• Join NYEC’s Virtual Workshop: How to Increase Federal Funding for Your Program – In this workshop we’ll explore how to build relationships with your Members of Congress to make the case for direct investments in your program. Join us on Thursday, March 5, from 2:30PM – 3:30PM ET to learn how to position your organization to pursue funding opportunities and expand services for young people. 

  

Legislative Branch:   

 

• Owens Announces Hearing on Strengthening Employer-Led Training in the Age of AI: Wednesday, at 10:15 a.m., the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, chaired by Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), will hold the fifth hearing in a series examining artificial intelligence, titled “Building an AI-Ready America: Strengthening Employer-Led Training.” The full hearing can be viewed here. 

• House Appropriations Committee Releases FY27 Programmatic, Language, and Community Project Funding Guidance: House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) released guidance for Fiscal Year 2027 programmatic, language, and Community Project Funding requests. Programmatic and language request guidance is available here, and Community Project Funding request guidance is available here. 

• House Appropriations Committee Announces LHHS Public Witness Testimony Submission Instructions: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) has opened the window for written public witness testimony. The deadline to submit written public testimony is Thursday, April 16, 2026. Find further instructions for submitting written testimony to the subcommittee here. 

 

Executive Branch: 

 

• Department of Education Announces Two Additional Interagency Agreements: The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced two new interagency agreements (IAAs) to further break up ED. The Department of State will partner with ED on the Section 117 foreign gift reporting, and Health and Human Service will partner with ED on family engagement and school support programs.   

Federal Funding Opportunities with upcoming deadlines: 

• DOL Grant: YouthBuild 2025: DOL will award grants through a competitive process to eligible public or private non-profit organizations or Tribal entities to provide pre-apprenticeship occupational skills training, education, and job placement services to opportunity youth. YouthBuild prepares participants for quality jobs in various industry sectors, and includes wrap-around supportive services such as assistance in transportation, childcare, and housing. Applications are due March 2, 2026. 

• OJJDP Grant: FY25 Second Chance Act Youth Reentry Program: This funding opportunity will provide funding to support states, units of local government, and federally recognized Native American Tribal governments in partnership with interested persons (including federal corrections and supervision agencies), service providers, and community-based organizations to provide (1) comprehensive reentry services for moderate- to high-risk youth before, during, and after release from confinement, and (2) support transitional services to assist youth to successfully reenter the community. Applications are due March 30, 2026. 

• DOL Grant: Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program (PfP IPP): The Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program will focus on incentivizing the expansion and growth of the National Apprenticeship System, specifically in industries with a firmly established program infrastructure that will make a significant contribution to the Administration’s goal of exceeding 1 million active apprentices. Applications are estimated to be due April 3, 2026. 

• DOL Grant: The Reentry Employment in Skilled Trades, Advanced Manufacturing, Registered Apprenticeships, and Training (RESTART) Initiative: RESTART supports the advancement of workforce readiness skills and the attainment of employment for ex-offenders across three populations: youth (ages 15-17 years old), young adults (ages 18-24 years old), and adults (ages 25 years old and above). Funds will be awarded to eligible entities to develop programs to train ex-offenders for high-need American jobs and assist them in being productive contributors to the U.S. economy. Applications are due April 15, 2026. 

• DOL Grant: Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (Round 6): Round 6 of the Strengthening Community Colleges (SCC or SCC6) grants will fund community colleges, with a singular focus on building program and system capacity for implementing and scaling access to short-term training opportunities through Workforce Pell Grants—i.e., promoting industry-driven strategies, worker mobility, and integration with the larger state workforce system (e.g., Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) partners) for statewide impact. Applications are due May 20, 2026. 

 

From the States: 

• Louisiana: Louisiana has taken new steps to protect foster youth by reforming how their federal benefits are managed and used. Governor Jeff Landry said the changes are designed to prioritize the financial security and stability of children in state custody. 

• Connecticut: Additional state funding is expanding Hartford’s summer youth employment program, allowing more young people to secure paid work opportunities. City leaders say the investment will increase access to early job experience and workforce skill-building. 

Resources 

• Youth Apprenticeships in Public Service: The post showcases youth apprenticeship as a powerful work-based learning model that connects students directly to public sector opportunities. 
• WIOA Flexibility and Youth Apprenticeships: The piece argues that WIOA already offers underused flexibility that can help workforce systems respond more effectively to local needs. By rethinking how funds and partnerships are structured, states can strengthen pathways into education and employment.