A new career pathways bill was filed in Maryland’s General Assembly last week. Proposed by Delegate Keiffer Mitchell (D-Baltimore City) and over twenty sponsors, the Workforce and Career Pathways Act proposes a $2 million Career Pathways Program in the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (DLLR), the state’s workforce agency. The bill proposes the administration of a statewide grant program to fund local consortia of community colleges, Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs), adult education providers, and other partners to provide programs that integrate adult basic education with occupational training that result in the attainment of industry recognized credentials. The bill targets lower-income and lower-skilled workers and focuses training on high-demand occupations. If passed, this bill will support and enhance other career pathway activities within DLLR and several of Maryland’s community colleges.
