February 25, 2026
Ms. McClellan (for herself, Ms. Ross, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Norton, Ms. Garcia of Texas, and Ms. Craig) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to authorize States to develop directories of career and technical education programs of study and career pathways, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Career-Connected Learning Pathways Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. State directories of career and technical education programs of study and career pathways
(a) Establishment
Section 124(b) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2344(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (12) and inserting the following:
(12)
developing, publishing, and maintaining a searchable public statewide directory of career and technical education programs of study and career pathways offered in the State that—
(A)
includes, for each such program of study and career pathway, the information described in section 134(b)(10) with respect to such program of study or career pathway;
(B)
is searchable by—
(i)
the school district or political subdivision of the State in which each program of study or career pathway is located;
(ii)
the industry or career cluster for which each program of study or career pathway provides preparation; and
(iii)
the credential available upon completion of each program of study or career pathway;
(C)
uses data formats that are—
(i)
standard;
(ii)
open;
(iii)
linked; and
(iv)
interoperable; and
(D)
is updated not less than once each program year;
(b) Information sharing
Section 134(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 2354(b)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (8), by striking and
at the end;
(2)
in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(10)
if the eligible agency elects to carry out the activities described in section 124(b)(12), for each career and technical education program of study and career pathway offered by the eligible recipient—
(A)
the name of such program of study or career pathway;
(B)
a description of such program of study or career pathway;
(C)
the school district or political subdivision of the State in which such program of study or career pathway is located;
(D)
the industry or career cluster for which such program of study or career pathway provides preparation;
(E)
each sequence of courses within such program of study or career pathway;
(F)
any dual or concurrent enrollment credit or recognized postsecondary credential available upon completion of such program of study or career pathway;
(G)
the postsecondary institution, local workforce development board, or industry or sector partnership affiliated with such program of study or career pathway;
(H)
any work-based learning opportunities provided by such program of study or career pathway; and
(I)
evidence of the alignment between such program of study or career pathway and the needs or projected needs of the labor market.