Texas Begins Work to Help Expand Federal Financial Aid for Short-Term Workforce Training

AUSTIN – Several state agencies will be assisting the U.S. Department of Education in implementing a new Workforce Pell Grant program, which could help Texans apply for federal grant funding to finance short-term workforce training programs.

Established by the Trump Administration as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, the new program is a historic expansion of how Pell Grants can be used.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) will collaborate with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), and the Texas Workforce Investment Council (TWIC) to identify short-term training programs– which must be at least eight weeks, but no more than 15 weeks long – that may qualify for Workforce Pell Grants.

The short-term programs will help students quickly gain the skills needed for high-demand, high-wage occupations across Texas, including industries such as health care, advanced manufacturing, and information technology.

Federal Pell Grants help eligible students finance two- and four-year college degree programs. This expansion allows those grants to support high-quality, short-term workforce training programs, helping students gain industry-recognized certificates that can lead to strong career opportunities and economic mobility in Texas.

“Texas is the economic leader of the country because of our hardworking and highly qualified workforce,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “This program expands opportunities for Texans to gain valuable skills in preparation for the sought-after jobs being created in Texas. I thank the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Workforce Investment Council for their partnership and support in making the next generation of Texans ready for the opportunities of tomorrow.”

“Our work with TWC and TWIC demonstrates our commitment to partner with stakeholders to help more Texas students enter the workforce prepared to succeed,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Wynn Rosser. “We will use THECB’s robust higher education data system – covering programs, student success, and wages – to identify workforce training that supports the federal government’s successful implementation of this new financial aid initiative.”

The U.S. Department of Education issued a notice of rulemaking for the Workforce Pell Grants program this week, publishing eligibility requirements and opening a 30-day period of public comment on the proposed new rules.