U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) on May 28 cosponsored a bipartisan bill to amend the Federal Work-Study program and allow institutions of higher education to use their allotted program funds for full-time, off-campus cooperative education and work-based learning.
“This bipartisan legislation eases restrictions by allowing students to participate in a federal work-study in the private sector,” said Rep. Stefanik, whose office pointed out that current law permits Federal Work-Study Program students to have part-time jobs that are on-campus, in the government, or at non-profit organizations, but not in the private sector.
Rep. Stefanik introduced the Classroom to Careers Act, H.R. 3035, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) to allow students in the federal program to get a full-time job in their field of study in either the public or private sector, according to information provided by the congresswoman’s office.
The Federal Work-Study program provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses, according to the U.S. Education Department, which said the program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study.
“The regulations in the current Federal Work-Study Program limit the modern student’s ability to integrate classroom learning with real world, on-the-job experiences that are needed to ensure they are competitive in the post-graduation job market,” Rep. Stefanik added. “I’m proud to lead this effort to ensure North Country students are well-equipped with the skills they need to succeed in the career of their choosing after college.”
H.R. 3035 is under consideration by the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee.