The Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2025 is a proposed law aiming to help young people succeed in school and work by providing them with mentors. This bill would create a program where community groups can apply for grants to set up mentoring services for youth across the country.
What This Bill Does
The Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2025 is designed to support young people who might be struggling in school or looking for work. It sets up a grant program run by the Department of Labor. Community organizations can apply for these grants to create mentoring programs that last up to three years.
These mentoring programs are meant to help young people develop important skills, both for school and for future jobs. Mentors, who can be adults or other young people, will be matched with students to provide guidance and support. The programs will include activities like job training, resume writing, and interview practice. They will also offer help for students with disabilities to transition from school to work.
The bill also requires the Department of Labor to work with other government departments to ensure that the programs are effective. They will study what makes mentoring programs successful and share this information with others. Additionally, the programs must report back on their progress each year, including details about who is participating and how they are doing.
Why It Matters
This bill could have a big impact on young people who need extra support to succeed. It specifically targets youth who are struggling in school, those who are not in school, and young people coming back from correctional facilities. By providing mentoring, these young people can get the help they need to finish school and find jobs.
The bill also focuses on helping students with disabilities, ensuring they receive the support needed to transition into the workforce. This could lead to more opportunities and better outcomes for these students. Overall, the bill aims to reduce unemployment among young people and help them become self-sufficient.
Key Facts
- Cost/Budget Impact: No cost estimate is currently available.
- Timeline for Implementation: Grants would last up to three years, with annual reporting required.
- Number of People Affected: Targets in-school youth, out-of-school youth, and youth returning from correctional facilities.
- Key Dates: Introduced on January 29, 2025, and currently in committee.
- Mentor Screening: Programs must conduct background checks on mentors.
- Peer Mentoring: Allows for youth to mentor other youth, not just adults mentoring youth.
- Interagency Coordination: Requires collaboration between the Department of Labor, Justice, and Education.
Arguments in Support
- Youth workforce development: Supporters believe the bill will improve job readiness for young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Social-emotional skills: The bill emphasizes developing skills that are crucial for success in school and work.
- Support for vulnerable groups: It addresses the needs of youth returning from correctional facilities and students with disabilities.
- Evidence-based approach: The bill requires studying successful programs to ensure effectiveness.
- Interagency collaboration: By working with multiple government departments, the bill aims to provide comprehensive support.
Arguments in Opposition
- Federal spending concerns: Critics may worry about the cost and whether federal funding is the best approach.
- Implementation challenges: There might be doubts about whether community organizations can effectively manage these programs.
- Measurement of success: Some may question if the tools used to measure social-emotional skills are adequate.
- Potential overlap: There could be concerns about duplicating existing programs.