← Back to Bills
H.R. 8112House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Federal Work-Study Improvement Act

Sponsored by Fred KellerRep. Fred Keller (R-PA)
Introduced June 16, 2022

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 4:12 PM UTC

The Federal Work‑Study Improvement Act amends the Higher Education Act to treat all colleges and universities the same when calculating the federal share of work‑study funding. It replaces references to “community service” with “work‑based learning,” sets new funding levels and share percentages, and repeals the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants program. The changes affect higher‑education institutions, students participating in work‑study, and the Department of Education.

Key Provisions

  • Replaces “community service” language with “work‑based learning” throughout the work‑study program provisions.
  • Authorizes $1.52 billion annually for FY 2023 and the next five years for work‑study activities.
  • Defines work‑based learning as paid, career‑aligned work experiences with industry or community professionals.
  • Sets the federal share of student compensation to 75% in the first year, decreasing to 50% by the fifth year, with possible higher shares if the Secretary determines a need.
  • Increases job‑location and development program caps to 20% or $150,000 and shifts focus to career and technical job placement.
  • Adjusts related allocation percentages (e.g., changes a reference from 80% to 50%).
  • Repeals Subpart 3 of Part A of Title IV (Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants) effective June 30 2022.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Education and Workforce Committee

June 16, 2022

View full timeline
HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 16, 2022

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Education and Workforce Committee

June 16, 2022

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode
Latest
Raw Text PDF XML
Introduced in HouseIssued June 16, 2022

I

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8112

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 16, 2022

Mr. Keller introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

A BILL

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to treat all institutions of higher education equally for purposes of determining the Federal share under the Federal work-study programs, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Federal Work-Study Improvement Act.

2.

Federal work-study programs

(a)

Authorization of appropriations; work-Based learning defined

Section 441 of part C of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087–51) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by striking community service activities and inserting work-based learning; and

(2)

by striking subsections (b) and (c) and inserting the following:

(b)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part, $1,520,000 for fiscal year 2023 and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.

(c)

Work-Based learning defined

For purposes of this part, the term work-based learning means paid interactions with industry or community professionals in real workplace settings that foster in-depth, first-hand engagement with the tasks required of a given career field, that are aligned to a student’s field of study.

(d)

Secretarial requirement

The Secretary may not award funds under this part based on whether an institution of higher education meets the definition of section 101 or 102(a)(1)(A).

.

(b)

Allocation of funds

Section 442(d)(1) of part C of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087–52(d)(1)) is amended by striking community service and inserting work-based learning.

(c)

Grants for Federal work-Study program

Section 443 of part C of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087–53) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by striking community service and inserting work-based learning;

(B)

by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

(2)

provide that funds granted an institution of higher education, pursuant to this section, may be used only to make payments to students participating in work-study programs, except that an institution may use a portion of the sums granted to it to meet administrative expenses in accordance with section 489 of this Act, may use a portion of the sums granted to it to meet the cost of a job location and development program in accordance with section 446 of this part, and may transfer funds in accordance with the provisions of section 488 of this Act;

;

(C)

by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:

(5)

provide that the Federal share of the compensation of students employed in the work-study program in accordance with the agreement shall not exceed—

(A)

75 percent for the first fiscal year after the date of the enactment of the Federal Work-Study Improvement Act;

(B)

65 percent for the second fiscal year after such date;

(C)

60 percent for the third fiscal year after such date;

(D)

55 percent for the fourth fiscal year after such date; and

(E)

50 percent each succeeding fiscal year,

except that the Federal share may exceed 50 percent if the Secretary determines, pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Secretary establishing objective criteria for such determinations, that a Federal share in excess of such amounts is required in furtherance of the purpose of this part;

; and

(D)

by striking paragraph (8)(B) and inserting the following:

(B)

in work-based learning;

;

(2)

in subsection (c)—

(A)

by striking paragraphs (2) and (3); and

(B)

by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively;

(3)

by striking subsection (d)(3); and

(4)

by striking subsection (e)(3).

(d)

Job location and development programs

Section 446 of part C of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087–56) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)(1)—

(A)

by striking 10 percent or $75,000 and inserting 20 percent or $150,000; and

(B)

by striking community service jobs and inserting career and technical job placement; and

(2)

in subsection (b)(1), by striking 80 and inserting 50.

(e)

Additional funds; work colleges

Sections 447 and 448 of part C of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 is amended (20 U.S.C. 1087–57, 1087–58), by striking community service each place it appears and inserting work-based learning.

3.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants

(a)

Repeal

Subpart 3 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070b et seq.) is repealed.

(b)

Effective date

The repeal made by subsection (a) shall take effect on June 30, 2022.

(c)

Appropriations

Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), sums appropriated under section 413A for fiscal year 2022 shall be available for payments to institutions of higher education under such section (as in effect on June 29, 2022) through the end of fiscal year 2023.