Spotlight
Alert: House WIA Bill (HR 4297) Threatens Youth Education and Employment Programs for Low-income and Disconnected Youth
The Campaign for Youth asks that you please consider signing on to a letter of support to preserve dedicated education, employment and training funding for low-income and disadvantaged youth.
HR4297 - the Workforce Investment Improvement Act of 2012 would likely dismantle the current youth education, employment and training system for low-income and disconnected youth. It consolidates federal youth funds into a predominantly adult focused workforce investment fund and provides no real requirements for state and local areas to provide youth with current level of services. The youth funding streams slated for consolidation in this bill served over 370,000 mostly low income and mostly minority youth. At a time when youth employment is at the lowest level in 60 years, when fewer than one in five minority teens found work last summer, when 40 to 50 percent of youth in high poverty communities are dropping out of school, we need to strengthen our federally funded youth employment system and programs to provide young people with the education, labor market options and wrap-around supports they will need to succeed in a 21st century labor market.
The House Education and Workforce Committee will soon mark-up HR 4297, join us in sending a strong message on behalf of youth! Many thanks for your consideration.
Sign on in support of low-income and disadvantaged youth>>>
Should you have any questions about the letter, please email Kisha Bird (CLASP/Campaign for Youth) at kbird@clasp.org.
