Youth and Young Adult Policy Update 5-22-26

May 22, 2026

• Save The Date: NYEC’s DC Summit in Washington, DC – September 21-23! Formerly known as Youth Days, this is our convening that brings together practitioners, youth leaders, and partners to demonstrate the importance of investing in young people and the programs that support them.

• Bipartisan, Bicameral Members of Congress Introduce Job Corps Alignment Bill: Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI) joined various Representatives in introducing a bill that would align Job Corps to the defense industrial base. The full bill text has not been released yet.

• Department of Education Releases Final Workforce Pell Rule: The U.S. Department of Education finalized its Workforce Pell rule, which will take effect on July 1, 2026. Our colleagues at the National Skills Coalition have written a summary of the rule, which can be found here.
• Acting Assistant Secretary of OCTAE Departs: Acting Assistant Secretary Nick Moore announced yesterday that he is leaving the Department of Education after more than 1 year of service. He will serve as the Alabama State Adult Education Director at the Alabama Community College System.

• DOL Grant: State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (Round 4): The fourth round of State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grants provides direct funding to states and territories based on a new performance-based formula. This formula rewards states for recent growth in active and new apprentices and encourages strategies that increase employer participation. Applications are due May 26, 2026.
• DOL Grant: Work Opportunity Tax Credit Initial Funding Allotments for Fiscal Year 2026: Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) state allotments to conduct WOTC activities are available for FY26. Applications are due May 28, 2026.
• DOL Grant: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Program Allotments for Program Year (PY) 2026: This funding opportunity is for states and territories receiving WIOA formula funding, and it outlines the allocation and use of funds for Program Year 2026. Applications are due May 29, 2026.
• DOJ Grant: OJJDP FY25 Juvenile Justice System Enhancements: This funding opportunity will support states to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of juvenile justice system operations by implementing targeted solutions to high-cost drivers of crime and improving youth outcomes. Applications are due June 8, 2026.
• ED Grant: Career Pathways Exploration Grant Program: The Career Pathways Exploration (CPE) program supports efforts to provide elementary and secondary school students with increased career exploration opportunities that allow them to develop, expand, and prioritize the skills and knowledge needed to excel in high-demand fields. Applications are due June 9, 2026.
• ED Grant: Expanding Career Pathways and Workforce Readiness of Special Education Teachers and Early Intervention Personnel Through Registered Apprenticeships: The purpose of the Expanding Career Pathways and Workforce Readiness of Special Education Teachers and Early Intervention Personnel Through Registered Apprenticeships competition is to fund cooperative agreements that support registered apprenticeship programs that attract, prepare, and retain special education teachers or early intervention personnel. Applications are due July 13, 2026.
• HHS Grant: Foster Parents Network Analytics Hub (HUB): To support the Administration for Children and Families’ initiative, A Home for Every Child, the Children’s Bureau will award one grant to establish the Foster Parents Network Analytics Hub (HUB) to achieve a foster home-to-child ratio of more than 1:1 in every state by 2029. The HUB will advance the goal by providing states with advanced analytics tools and intensive technical assistance to optimize their foster parent networks. Applications are due July 14, 2026.
• HHS Grant: Community Economic Development Projects: The Office of Community Services (OCS) will award approximately $18.57 million in Community Economic Development (CED) discretionary funds to Community Development Corporations (CDC) to enhance job creation and business development for individuals with low income. Applications are due July 17, 2026.
• Forecasted HHS Grant: The Primary Prevention Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program: This funding opportunity provides funding to identify and implement strategies and services for youth and young adults between ages 12 and 26 in order to prevent homelessness, including strategies designed to serve youth and young adult populations with a high likelihood of experiencing homelessness, housing instability, particularly among youth at risk of human trafficking; struggling with substance abuse or mental health concerns; or transitioning out of foster care, the juvenile justice system, or a residential behavioral health system. Applications are due July 22, 2026.
• HUD Grant: Youth Homelessness Grant for FY2024 and FY2025: This grant opportunity will provide two separate sources of funding under two different programs; YHSI grants (CFDA number 14.277) and YHDP (CFDA number 14.276). Both sets of funds were appropriated by Congress “to demonstrate how a comprehensive approach to serving homeless youth, age 24 and under … can dramatically reduce youth homelessness.” Applications are due July 29, 2026.
• HHS Grant: FY2026 Runaway Homeless Youth Training, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building Center (RHYTTAC): The Runaway and Homeless Youth Training, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building Center (RHYTTAC) provides direct training and technical assistance to existing RHY award recipients and subrecipients to enhance their efforts to successfully implement FYSB-funded projects. Applications are due August 3, 2026.
• Forecasted HHS Grant: FY 2026 Basic Center Program: The Basic Center Program (BCP) provides temporary, emergency shelter and counseling services to youth who have left home without permission of their parents or guardians, have been forced to leave home, or other homeless youth who might otherwise end up in the law enforcement or in the child welfare, mental health, or juvenile justice systems. Applications are due August 3, 2026.
• HUD Grant: FY 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Grants: The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness and provide funding for efforts by providers. Applications are due August 26, 2026.

• Mississippi: Gov. Tate Reeves announced the Mississippi Statewide AI Framework, which creates a “structured, stage-by-stage map” for learners of all ages, from K-12 through career-age professionals, to advance their artificial intelligence skills.
• Idaho: Idaho students will soon be able to apply for federal Pell Grants covering workforce training programs in high-demand career fields.

• Grant Opportunity: Arbor Rising is seeking partners whose organizational models create meaningful opportunities for low-income individuals to achieve economic mobility, most often in the fields of education or job training. To be considered for the 2026 grant cycle, LOIs must be submitted by Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
• Employers Report Four Indirect Benefits of Youth Apprenticeship: A New America report found that Youth Apprenticeship renews purpose and engagement at work; provides early exposure to managerial experience; sparks collaboration within and beyond the company; and raises the bar for training.