The passage of Workforce Pell is a strong step forward in expanding access to credentials and skills required for good jobs, but it is not enough to truly support economic mobility. States will fall short of meeting the promise of Workforce Pell if support starts and ends with financial aid. For Workforce Pell to truly deliver on its promise of expanding opportunity for working people and helping employers hire with confidence, states must adopt complementary policies — like paid work-based learning — that are proven to strengthen outcomes for workers and employers.
National Skills Coalition’s fact sheet defines paid work-based learning and provides policy solutions for states in supporting effective programs.
