| Alabama AL |
Live |
First Program State-Approved (Sep 14) ↗ Open Portal |
Alabama Department of Workforce (administrator; Gov. Ivey certifies), with the Alabama Workforce Board and ACCCP |
Sep 14, 2026 |
ADOWGovernor Ivey issued the state's first approval September 14: a certificate to Lawson State Community College's Lineworker Training Program, the first application through the joint ACCS System Office and ADOW review; the release does not state an ED submission, which per the portal follows governor approval, and the ADOW approved-program directory does not yet list the program; per-program applications continue against 70/70 outcomes and the In-Demand Occupations List |
On September 14, 2026 Governor Ivey announced that Lawson State Community College's Lineworker Training Program is the first program in Alabama to receive state approval through the Workforce Pell process, presenting the college a certificate recognizing the approval. The 10-week program provides more than 400 hours of hands-on training (pole climbing, power line installation, truck driving, ladder safety) in partnership with Alabama Power, and its application was the first through the joint review in which the ACCS System Office compiles outcome data before ADOW's state review; the release says additional ACCS colleges are preparing applications in high-demand fields. The release does not state that an ED submission has occurred, and as of September 16 the ADOW page still reads that the approved-program directory will be posted once final approvals are issued, with no entries. Governor's announcement. On June 30, 2026 Governor Ivey and the Alabama Department of Workforce (ADOW) launched Alabama's Workforce Pell approval process. Alabama uses a program-by-program approval and directory model: an institution applies to ADOW for each program, the governor approves under 34 CFR 690.93, and an approved-program directory is published as approvals issue. To be approved, a program must train for an occupation on the statewide or regional In-Demand Occupations List (about 231 occupations statewide, set by the Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways via a five-criteria Demand Rubric), have existed in its current form for the preceding 12 months, meet 70% completion and 70% job placement (employed the second quarter after exit, P20W Council methodology), satisfy employer hiring requirements, and lead to a stackable, portable credential. Registered Apprenticeship related technical instruction automatically meets the in-demand and employer-alignment criteria (the Title IV institution must deliver over 50% of instruction; 70/70 still applies), and noncredit credentials qualify via the WIOA industry-recognized-credential definition. Press release, Governor's memo. Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Arizona AZ |
Live |
Council Vote Was Calendared Sep 17; Outcome Unposted ↗ Open Portal |
Office of Economic Opportunity, with the Workforce Arizona Council (Governor's OSI / Talent Ready Arizona) |
Sep 17, 2026 |
OEOThe Workforce Arizona Council's review-and-vote on eligible programs was calendared for September 17 per the OEO timeline, the step at which eligible programs receive the governor's certification for ED submission; as of September 18 no outcome, certification announcement, or minutes are posted, and the timeline says programs are notified after September 17, so results may reach institutions directly rather than a public list; the next application period is spring 2027 |
OEO opened the Workforce Pell state certification application window on July 31, 2026: Pell-eligible institutions with qualifying short-term programs submit applications through August 24, 2026, and certified programs are to be notified after September 17, 2026; state certification precedes submission to the U.S. Department of Education. Certification applications cover institution eligibility, labor market alignment, employer engagement and validation, student outcomes, and consumer disclosures (contact: gina.flores@oeo.az.gov). This followed the draft-policy public comment that closed July 20; program alignment is anchored to Arizona's Labor Market Job Rankings, and no final occupation list has been published. Earlier steps: OSI's Talent Ready Arizona page and institutional Interest List (closed June 5), and a Governor's Office and OEO working group developing policy with the Workforce Arizona Council. The OEO timeline (page re-verified September 3) sets September 17, 2026 as the milestone when the Workforce Arizona Council reviews eligible programs and votes on the final policy and eligible programs receive the governor's certification for submission to ED, and the page states Arizona "is on track to have programs approved by mid-September." Source, OSI page Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Arkansas AR |
Live |
Extended Window Open (Aug 21 - Sep 30) ↗ Open Portal |
Arkansas Division of Higher Education |
Aug 21, 2026 |
ADHEExtended application window open August 21 through September 30; initial-round review outcomes not yet posted; the July 24 AHECB agenda contained no Workforce Pell item; next quarterly meeting October 23 |
The Arkansas Division of Higher Education ran an initial Workforce Pell application window June 1 through June 30, 2026, now closed, and on August 21, 2026 opened an extended application window running through September 30, 2026, posted with the AY 2026-27 high-wage and in-demand occupations list. Institutions submitted a completed application form and a supporting-artifacts PDF to workforce.grants@adhe.edu; partial applications were not reviewed. Eligible programs run 150 to 599 clock hours (or equivalent credit hours), at least 8 but fewer than 15 weeks, and begin July 1, 2026, screened against the Arkansas Workforce Pell High-wage and/or In-Demand Occupations List for AY 2026-27. As of July 24 ADHE has not posted a review timeline or announced a second window. The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board met July 24; its posted agenda book contained no Workforce Pell item, and the following quarterly meeting is October 23, 2026. Inside Higher Ed reports (August 7, 2026) ADHE assistant commissioner Tina Moore describing the fit problem: nearly 1,300 Arkansas Workforce Challenge programs meet the clock-hour requirements but many miss the 8-to-14-week instructional window, with common CDL and CNA formats not matching the federal parameters. The Coordinating Board next meets October 23, 2026 at ASU Mountain Home, with no agenda posted. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Colorado CO |
Live |
Window Closed Aug 21; Steering Committee Vote Sep 21 ↗ Open Portal |
Colorado Workforce Development Council |
Aug 24, 2026 |
CWDCPer-program application window closed August 21, the deadline in the CWDC milestone table (the July launch post had given August 15); staff are reviewing applications, the CWDC has delegated its statutory consultation role to its Education and Training Steering Committee, and a special ad hoc voting meeting of that committee on September 21 is to finalize program recommendations ahead of the Governor's certification and ED review; no submission counts or approved list posted |
CWDC published Colorado's Final Workforce Pell Implementation Policy and opened the new Eligible Training Provider List platform at coloradoetpl.org on July 1, 2026 as the state certification portal. The per-program application window opened on the published schedule July 15 and runs through August 15, 2026; state review runs fall 2026, followed by governor certification and ED review. Occupations must meet any combination of two of high-wage, high-skill, or in-demand, and applications require participant-level completion and placement data for the prior two program years (against the 70% thresholds), evidence of guaranteed credit articulation, and employer-input evidence. The state is running technical-assistance office hours with Education Strategy Group July 21, July 31, August 10, and August 14; contact wfpell@state.co.us; recordings of the July 6 and July 21 implementation webinars are posted on the CWDC page. HB26-1317 separately advances a unified postsecondary talent system. On July 17 the CWDC page also carries the published eligible-occupations list with a CIP-to-SOC crosswalk: 434 SOC occupations, each marked as meeting two of the three statutory criteria. The CWDC's September council pre-work packet (file dated September 3) states that "Workforce Pell applications were open to be submitted via the ETPL platform due by Aug. 21. Staff are reviewing the applications and will share results with the Education and Training Steering Committee for their review in September," and the committee's August 24 meeting notes record that "the CWDC delegated its statutory consultation role to the Education & Training Steering Committee," that the committee "will not re-perform technical audits" but will review staff recommendations "before recommending certification to the Governor," and that "a special ad hoc voting meeting is scheduled for September 21, 2026, at 11:30 AM to finalize program recommendations," a session the notes' key-dates table labels "Governor Review and Approval in consultation with CWDC"; the September 17 to 18 council agenda carries no Workforce Pell action item. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Delaware DE |
Live |
Applications Open (OWD) ↗ Open Portal |
DE Department of Labor, Office of Workforce Development (designated by Governor Meyer), with the Workforce Pell Review Committee |
Aug 11, 2026 |
DDOL / OWDOnline institution application open; the Workforce Pell Review Committee reviews applications and OWD certifies on the Governor's behalf before ED submission; the final policy states applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and no approved-program list is posted |
On August 11, 2026 the Delaware Department of Labor released the state's Workforce Pell Program Policy and opened the institution application, moving Delaware from no located public action to an operational process in a single announcement. Governor Meyer has designated the Office of Workforce Development within DDOL to administer the program, coordinate cross-agency review, and certify eligible programs on the Governor's behalf; institutions apply through an online application, the Workforce Pell Review Committee reviews submissions, and OWD certification precedes submission to the U.S. Department of Education. The approval model is occupation-first, anchored to the state's existing High Demand Occupation List, with institutions required to demonstrate employer demand, credential portability and stackability, and student outcomes; the portal restates the federal 150-599 clock hour and 8-to-under-15-week program tests and the value-added earnings test. No application deadline, window schedule, or approved-program list is posted. Source, Portal Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| District of Columbia DC |
Live |
Final Policy Posted; First Round Due Sep 30 ↗ Open Portal |
Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (coordinates and certifies on the Mayor's behalf), with the DC Workforce Pell Grant Steering Committee (DME, WIC, OSSE, DOES, DMPED) |
Sep 1, 2026 |
DMEFinal policy dated September 1 posted with the eligible-occupations list and readiness checklist; the online program application is open with first-round submissions due September 30; reviews run up to 60 days with a 15-day appeal window, two application cycles per year |
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education posted a full draft DC Workforce Pell Policy (dated July 8, 2026), a draft eligible-occupations list, and an institutional readiness checklist for a 14-day public comment period, July 8 through July 21, 2026, following an interagency working group convened regularly since spring 2026. DME coordinates implementation and issues certifications on the Mayor's behalf, working through a cross-agency DC Workforce Pell Grant Steering Committee (DME, the Workforce Investment Council, OSSE, DOES, and DMPED). Per the draft, a revised policy follows by September 1, 2026 with the first submission deadline by September 30; applications are considered twice a year, reviews take up to 60 days, and applicants have a 15-day appeal window. On schedule, DME posted the final Workforce Pell Policy for Washington, DC (dated September 1, 2026) together with the final DC Workforce Pell Eligible Occupations List and an institutional readiness checklist, and opened the online DC Workforce Pell Program Application, with first-round submissions due September 30, 2026. The final occupations list, built from Lightcast, WIC, and OSSE data and refreshed biannually on the WIC site, names 31 occupations (distinct SOC codes counted from the September file, matching the draft count) concentrated in construction, IT and business administration, transportation, and health care. Under H.R. 1 the Mayor approves Workforce Pell-eligible programs in consultation with the State Workforce Development Board. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Florida FL |
Live |
Governor Announced Initial Eligible List (Sep 17) ↗ Open Portal |
Florida Department of Education (State Board of Education) |
Sep 17, 2026 |
FL DOE / SBOEGovernor DeSantis announced the state's initial list of eligible short-term workforce programs September 17 and delegated Commissioner of Education Henry Mack to lead statewide implementation; the posted inventory remains the August 27 revision with 31 programs, institutions certify listed programs, and FDOE validates against federal requirements and state policy before ED review; no ED submission announced |
Florida took a state-identified approach rather than an institution-application model: the Department of Education published a 2025-2026 Workforce Pell Program Inventory naming 31 eligible programs across 18 federal CIP areas (verified against the inventory file July 18), built from existing program frameworks, the Florida Master Credentials List (MCL), labor market data including the Targeted Occupations List, and statewide priority occupations including Hometown Heroes occupations under section 420.5096, Florida Statutes. The programs run 150 to 562 clock hours and are mostly career certificates (firefighter, phlebotomy, commercial vehicle driving, EMT, nursing/patient-care assistant, welding, water and wastewater treatment, and public-safety roles). FDOE held a certification and state validation webinar July 8, 2026 (recording now posted): institutions offering programs on the state-approved inventory complete the federal certification form and submit it to WorkforcePell@fldoe.org, and FDOE reviews and validates against federal requirements and state policy. Eligible programs are reviewed annually. Governor certification and ED review still precede student enrollment. The implementation page now labels the inventory PDF "Updated 8-27-26", and the inventory still lists 31 programs (counted from the file via the September 9 archive capture; fldoe.org blocks direct fetches), so the August 27 revision did not change the count; the page also spells out the two-stage flow ending with governor-approved programs submitted to ED, and no governor certification or ED submission has been announced. The State Board of Education's September 16, 2026 meeting agenda carried no Workforce Pell item, verified in the Florida Administrative Register notice (the board also took no Workforce Pell action at its July meeting). On September 17, 2026 Governor DeSantis announced Florida's "initial list of eligible short-term workforce programs for purposes of implementing the new federal Workforce Pell Grant program" and delegated Commissioner of Education Henry Mack to lead statewide implementation; the state release states that FDOE determines eligible programs using the Targeted Occupations List managed by FloridaCommerce and the CareerSource Florida Master Credential List (state release). The announcement publishes no separate list document, so the posted 31-program inventory (revised August 27) remains the operative list, and no ED submission has been announced. Source, SBOE meetings Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Georgia GA |
Live |
Applications Open (TCSG) ↗ Open Portal |
Technical College System of Georgia (WorkSource Georgia), with the State Workforce Development Board |
Aug 21, 2026 |
TCSG / WorkSource GAInstitution application open at apply.workforcepellga.com; the page now states applications submitted by October 2 are reviewed for presentation to the State Workforce Development Board on October 19, with later submissions deferred to a February 2027 review; TCSG eligibility review, advisory committee, full board, and governor certification follow; approved-program list marked TBA |
On July 2, 2026 the Technical College System of Georgia announced Georgia's Workforce Pell implementation, and its Office of Workforce Development (WorkSource Georgia) published a dedicated Workforce Pell site with program policy and eligibility criteria tied to Georgia's High Demand Career List; the page states the State Workforce Development Board, at the governor's direction, ensures programs meet requirements. By July 15 the institution application had opened at apply.workforcepellga.com (no deadline posted): TCSG reviews applications against state and federal eligibility requirements, passing applications go to the State Workforce Development Board's Workforce Pell Advisory Committee, which meets quarterly, then to the full board and the governor for certification, and the institution submits the state certification to ED. The approved-program list remains TBA; the full State Workforce Development Board's remaining 2026 meetings are August 20 (Rome) and October 19, the scheduled venues for board action, and the August 20 meeting agenda carried a Workforce Pell Policy presentation by TCSG's Office of Workforce Development, with no program-approval action item (the meeting's only action items were an ETPL waiver and local-board certifications). On August 21, 2026 WorkSource Georgia opened a 30-day public comment period, through September 19, on a proposed WIOA waiver to streamline Eligible Training Provider List eligibility for training programs approved for Workforce Pell; the waiver request and an online comment form are posted on the Workforce Pell page; the board's August 20 presentation, since posted with a summary of action items, gave only an informational Workforce Pell overview and the ETPL waiver, and the board next meets October 19, 2026. The Workforce Pell page now publishes a first review pipeline: applications submitted by October 2, 2026 are reviewed for presentation to the State Workforce Development Board at its October 19 meeting, and applications submitted after October 2 are deferred to a February 2027 review (date to be determined); the approved-program list remains TBA. The route is administrative: HB 1345, which would have authorized the board by statute, stalled before the 2025-26 biennium adjourned in April. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Idaho ID |
Live |
Pilot Applications Open (WDC) |
State Workforce Pell Coordinating Council (Career Technical Education + Idaho Workforce Development Council co-chairs) |
Jun 10, 2026 |
SWPCCPilot cohort applications being accepted; EO 2026-05 council maintains the approved-program registry; broader rollout to follow |
On June 10, 2026 Governor Little signed Executive Order 2026-05 establishing the State Workforce Pell Coordinating Council (SWPCC), co-chaired by the Division of Career Technical Education and the Idaho Workforce Development Council, to recommend eligibility standards, maintain an approved program registry, and ensure federal compliance. WDC approved an early eligibility policy (in-demand careers matrix) and began accepting program applications around June 1, 2026, initially approving a small pilot cohort before broader rollout. No pilot approvals or registry entries have been posted; the WDC's next quarterly council meeting is September 9, 2026, and its posted agenda carries no Workforce Pell item by name (the closest items are an In-Demand Credentials discussion under the Performance Impact and Evaluation Committee report and the executive director's report). Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Illinois IL |
Live |
First-Round Window Closed Aug 31 ↗ Open Portal |
Illinois Interagency Workforce Pell Team (Governor's Office, ICCB, IBHE, DCEO, IDES, ISAC, IWIB) |
Aug 31, 2026 |
Interagency WFP TeamFirst-round applications open July 15 through August 31 for award years 2026-27 and 2027-28; interagency review, then state approval and submission to ED |
On July 15, 2026 the Illinois Interagency Workforce Pell Team published the final Workforce Pell Program Approval Manual and opened the first-round institution application window, July 15 through August 31, 2026, covering award years 2026-27 and 2027-28. Community colleges, universities, and approved private business and vocational schools apply through a posted application form, with an overview webinar July 21; ICCB hosts the state hub with an institutional readiness checklist, student-data template, a frequently-asked-questions document posted August 3, and weekly Monday office hours through August 24. Eligibility screens against the eligible occupations list (Appendix A): counted from the posted file, 195 distinct occupations (O*NET-SOC 2019 codes), built on the state's WIOA Demand Occupation Training List and including petition-based local additions. The draft manual's public comment ran June 2 to 11. Mid-window, ICCB posted an Implementation FAQ dated August 3, 2026 alongside the July 21 application-launch webinar deck; Monday office hours run July 27 through August 24, and the FAQ says ICCB expects to submit approved applications to ED in winter 2026-27. The first-round window closed on its posted August 31 end date; as of September 2 the ICCB page still carries the July 15 to August 31 application language with no close announcement, submission counts, review timeline, or second-round dates posted. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Indiana IN |
Live |
Second Federal Approval in the Nation (Aug 19) ↗ Open Portal |
Indiana Department of Workforce Development (with Commission for Higher Education) |
Aug 19, 2026 |
EDIvy Tech's Clinical Medical Assistant program received ED approval August 19, the nation's second, with Pell usable now; Vincennes's two state-approved programs still await federal action; the CHE page (updated August 31) now posts a Workforce Pell Eligible Programs list with one entry, Ivy Tech's Clinical Medical Assistant |
On July 1, 2026 Governor Braun formally launched Workforce Pell in Indiana, announcing he has approved Ivy Tech Community College and Vincennes University to apply for program consideration through the U.S. Department of Education for 2026-27, prioritizing five sectors: advanced manufacturing, building and construction, health and life sciences, IT and business services, and transportation and logistics. Braun earlier signed HEA 1266 (2026) to align state and federal processes after SB 161 died at the February 27 sine die. The Commission for Higher Education, with DWD and the State Workforce Board, runs the application portal; a joint CHE and DWD committee reviews submissions for approval by the Governor, then ED conducts final validation. Statewide expansion to all eligible institutions is planned for early-to-mid 2027; the governor-and-Secretary-approved program list will be posted on the CHE page (none yet). The State Workforce Development Board's July 16, 2026 meeting materials report an initial program eligibility list determined at 28 six-digit SOC codes and 36 CIP codes, published as the Eligible Workforce Pell Occupations List (as of 7/1/2026) in CHE's Workforce Pell Policy and Technical Appendices (counted from the source: 28 distinct SOCs; welders, CNC tool programmers, and heavy truck drivers are all on it) and reported in the July 16 SWDB materials. WISH-TV reported July 9, 2026 that state officials had approved the first three programs, pending federal validation: certified clinical medical assistant at Ivy Tech, certified clinical medical assistant at Vincennes, and an electrical maintenance technician bootcamp at Vincennes; the approvals are press-reported and no state page yet lists them. Open Campus reported July 24, 2026 that Ivy Tech's certified clinical medical assistant program spans its 18 campuses, and Inside Higher Ed reported July 27 that Ivy Tech has submitted the program to the U.S. Department of Education, the first state-routed federal submission publicly reported anywhere. On August 19, 2026 the U.S. Department of Education approved Ivy Tech's 8-week Clinical Medical Assistant program, the second Workforce Pell program approved in the nation (after Iowa Central's EMT certificate on August 4): eligible students can now apply Pell dollars to the program across Ivy Tech's campuses. The release does not address Vincennes's two state-approved programs, which remain in the federal queue. The CHE page, updated August 31, 2026, now carries a "Workforce Pell Eligible Programs" section listing one program, Ivy Tech Community College's Clinical Medical Assistant, matching the August 19 federal approval; the Vincennes programs are absent from the list, consistent with pending federal action. The State Workforce Development Board's draft minutes for July 16 record a Workforce Pell overview co-presented by DWD and CHE, with board questions deferred to the next meeting, October 7, 2026. Source, ED release Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Iowa IA |
Live |
Second Round Open (Closes Oct 16); Roster Shows Two Federal Approvals ↗ Open Portal |
Iowa Department of Education |
Aug 2026 |
EDOne program is fully approved with an ED announcement (Iowa Central Community College EMT, approved August 4, Pell usable immediately); the state roster now shows a second program, DMACC's EMT, as federally approved and open to student applications (the eligibility flag flipped between the September 9 and September 11 page captures; no ED announcement accompanies it); the other seven state-approved first-cycle programs await federal action, and a second-round Qualtrics application is open with a posted October 16 close |
On August 4, 2026 the U.S. Department of Education approved the nation's first Workforce Pell program: Iowa Central Community College's 14-week Emergency Medical Technician certificate, announced on campus by Secretary McMahon, Acting Labor Secretary Sonderling, and Governor Reynolds, with eligible students able to use Pell dollars immediately (ED release, Governor). It is one of nine programs the state approved from the first cycle; the remaining eight await federal action. The state now publishes an itemized roster of the nine, each program flagged by college for state approval, federal approval, and student eligibility (spanning EMT, commercial driving, CNC, HVAC, and manufacturing maintenance across Iowa Central, Des Moines Area, Eastern Iowa, and Iowa Western community colleges); two programs, Iowa Central's EMT and DMACC's EMT, now show federally approved and open to students. The state page says the next round of Iowa applications "will open soon." Iowa was the first state in the country to open its Workforce Pell application: the state application opened April 1, 2026 with a May 15 institutional submission deadline for the first approval cycle (now closed), and June 2026 coverage featured colleges such as Kirkwood building 8-to-15-week offerings in health care, manufacturing, IT, and the trades. The first cycle drew 20 program applications from seven colleges, per the Iowa Department of Education. Per the state page, programs go to the state workforce board and Governor, then to ED, and "a list of eligible programs will be linked when available" (not yet posted); students apply through the FAFSA, which opens October 1. Eligibility is anchored to Iowa's Workforce Pell H3 Occupation List with SOC-CIP crosswalk, 243 high-demand, high-wage, high-skill occupations (those mapping to eligible programs in its SOC-CIP crosswalk). As of late July the Iowa DOE page states the next round of State of Iowa applications "will open soon"; a list of eligible programs will be posted when available. Inside Higher Ed reported July 27, 2026, citing the Iowa Department of Education, that Iowa unanimously approved nine programs at the state's community colleges from the first cycle; the approving body, vote date, and program list are not named, and the state page does not yet reflect the approvals, so the count is press-attributed pending a state posting. Iowa Capital Dispatch reporting on the August 4 event adds that the state announced certification of the nine programs across the four colleges on July 31, 2026, and that nine additional programs were denied state certification for not meeting the 12-month lookback window on required outcomes. As of August 28 the department's page links a live Qualtrics Workforce Pell Application with "Application window closes on Oct. 16," and the nine-program roster flags a second program, Des Moines Area Community College's Emergency Medical Technician, as Federally-Approved: Yes, and between the September 9 and September 11 page captures its student-eligibility flag flipped to Yes as well, so the roster now shows two programs (both EMT) federally approved and open to student applications; no ED release accompanies the DMACC approval, so it is state-reported; ED's September 14 release announcing the Nebraska approvals calls Nebraska the third state with program approvals and does not mention DMACC, leaving the roster flag state-documented only. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Kentucky KY |
Live |
Applications Open (KWIB) ↗ Open Portal |
Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board / Education and Labor Cabinet |
Jun 30, 2026 |
KWIB / ELCEmergency regulation 787 KAR 2:050E, effective June 30, establishes the process; online institution application open; KWIB office review within 30 days of a complete application, then governor decision; the emergency regulation's public hearing is August 31 and the companion ordinary regulation's hearing and comment deadline is September 30 |
Kentucky moved from workgroup to an operational process by emergency regulation: 787 KAR 2:050E ("General provisions for operation of the Workforce Pell Program"), filed by the Education and Labor Cabinet and effective June 30, 2026, establishes the approval framework, and KWIB published a Workforce Pell page with a live online institution application. The KWIB office reviews a complete application within 30 days for completeness and compliance with state and federal law, then forwards it to the Governor for decision; denials may be appealed in writing within 20 calendar days, with the Governor ruling within 60 days, and institutions must reapply six months before their program participation agreement expires. Programs must train students for a high-wage, high-skill, or in-demand occupation as defined by Kentucky (the page links the state high-wage and in-demand occupation workbooks rather than a curated Workforce Pell list), demonstrate employer alignment, and report outcomes to the Kentucky Center for Statistics. Regulation, Per the LRC filings, both versions were filed June 30, 2026: the emergency regulation's public hearing is set for August 31, 2026 (written comments through that date), and the companion ordinary regulation 787 KAR 2:050 is scheduled for a public hearing on September 30, 2026, with written comments accepted through September 30. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Louisiana LA |
Live |
Process Operational; State-Originated (Year 1) ↗ Open Portal |
Louisiana Workforce Commission (Louisiana Works) |
Aug 26, 2026 |
LWCYear 1 program list is state-originated: Louisiana Works assembles each program record, and a Jul 15 launch announcement says the Board of Regents has identified the first group of eligible programs (roster not yet posted); unsolicited institutional applications begin with award year 2027-28 |
The Louisiana Workforce Commission runs an operational, state-originated Year 1 process: its published submission policy (implementing 34 CFR 690.90 to 690.97) states that Louisiana "will not accept unsolicited institutional applications in Year 1." Louisiana Works originates each Year 1 program record and certifies completion and placement through UI wage records; the Education to Workforce Alignment Advisory Council is consulted at least 30 calendar days before the Workforce Investment Council meeting, the WIC approves or denies, and the Governor certifies approvals to ED within 15 calendar days. Institution-initiated portal submissions begin with award year 2027-28 on a published schedule; denial appeals are due within 30 calendar days. The site also carries the program-approval process, the high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand methodology, written policies on stackable and portable credentials and academic-credit award, and a Public List of Qualifying Occupations & Sectors enumerating twelve four-digit CIP program families, largely in construction trades, industrial and vehicle maintenance, precision metal work, and ground transportation; the list is CIP-family based rather than an occupation list, so it is tracked here and not on the comparison page. An LWC webinar walked through the process June 4. On July 15, 2026 Louisiana Works issued a statewide launch announcement with the Board of Regents and LCTCS stating that the Board of Regents has identified the first group of eligible short-term training programs; the announcement (carried by press; no laworks.net posting located, and the LWC page still shows a July 9 update date) cites grants of about $2,200 for most programs and up to $4,300 by duration, concentrated in skilled trades with some health care. The Year 1 roster itself has not been posted. Earlier activity ran through the Board of Regents and LCTCS (August 2025 board update). On August 26, 2026 the Board of Regents approved "a new joint policy with Louisiana Works for Workforce Pell" among eight policy updates at its August board meeting (Regents release). The policy text is available inside the August 26 board materials (agenda item V.A): the portions requiring joint Regents and Louisiana Works approval are the academic credit transfer and articulation and the credential stackability and portability sections, and the packet also carries the Year 1 Program Selection and Approval Process for the 2026-27 award year (effective July 1, 2026) for adoption by the Education-to-Workforce Alignment Advisory Council; the Regents policy library has no standalone Workforce Pell entry, the laworks.net pages (introduction page updated August 6) already describe the policies as jointly issued, and the Year 1 program roster the July 15 launch promised is still unposted. Source, launch announcement Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Maine ME |
Live |
First Cycle Closed Sep 11; SWDB Review Sep 25 ↗ Open Portal |
Maine State Workforce Development Board / Maine DOL |
Sep 11, 2026 |
SWDB / Maine DOLFirst-cycle submissions closed September 11; the posted September 25 Quarter 3 agenda carries "Workforce Pell Program Approval & Lessons Learned" as a 10:00 am item, with Workforce Pell meeting minutes from June 29 and July 30 as pre-reads (9:00 am to noon, MDOL, Augusta); quarterly cycles continue (November 13 submissions for December 11 review), with recommendation to the governor for certification, then ED submission; no certified-program list posted yet |
The SWDB adopted the Maine Workforce Pell Program Determination Policy (PY 26-01) at its July 30, 2026 Workforce Pell meeting, resolving the vote whose outcome had gone unposted: the final policy is issued July 30 and marked Active, and the posted file is dated August 11, 2026. On August 12, 2026 the Maine Department of Labor announced that Maine's Workforce Pell application is open: accredited public, nonprofit, or for-profit Title IV institutions apply online through WorkSourceMaine, and applications received by September 11 are considered in the September review cycle. The SWDB reviews applications quarterly and makes recommendations to the governor for state certification, then approved programs go to ED for final approval; following federal approval the SWDB publishes the list of Maine-certified programs on the state Workforce Pell page within 30 days. The portal now posts the full application kit: the Priority Occupation List (Appendix B of the policy; counted from the file: 72 distinct SOC occupations across two tiers, high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand occupations and essential in-demand occupations), a step-by-step submission guide, employer validation form, data-sharing agreement, participant data worksheet, recordings of the August 14 and August 31 webinars, and a one-page Q&A from the August 31 webinar posted September 1 (the data-sharing agreement runs between the institution and MDOL with participant data used only for outcome matching, Workforce Pell is not a separate funding stream, and awards count against Lifetime Eligibility Used). Review runs on a published Year 1 calendar: complete submissions by September 11 are reviewed at the September 25 SWDB meeting, by November 13 for December 11, and quarterly into 2027, with incomplete or late submissions rolling forward automatically. The September review date discrepancy between the two state sources is resolved: the State Workforce Board's meeting page now carries the notice that the September 18 meeting was rescheduled to September 25, 2026 (9:00 am to noon, MDOL, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta), matching the Workforce Pell page's Year 1 review calendar, and the posted Quarter 3 agenda lists "Workforce Pell Program Approval & Lessons Learned" as a 10:00 am item, followed by review of the 2026 High Wage, In Demand list, with the June 29 and July 30 Workforce Pell meeting minutes among the pre-read materials; the agenda does not state submission counts. The policy had earlier run public comment June 30 through July 14 on the draft, and the 2026 WIOA Unified State Plan modification separately commits to integrating Workforce Pell with the state's Eligible Training Provider List. Partners named in the announcement include Maine DOE, FAME, the community college system, and the University of Maine System. Source, MDOL announcement Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Maryland MD |
Live |
Applications Open (MWE, Rolling) ↗ Open Portal |
Governor's Workforce Development Board (leads implementation on the Governor's behalf), with MD Labor, MHEC, and the MLDS Center |
Jul 10, 2026 |
GWDBRolling applications through the unified ETPL and Workforce Pell application on the Maryland Workforce Exchange; GWDB technical review and cross-agency Workforce Pell Review Committee recommendation, with quarterly state determinations issued in August, November, February, and May; no August determination list or count is posted, the page says the approved list follows ED approvals, and the GWDB's posted September 23 quarterly-meeting agenda (3:00 to 5:00 pm, at the Raising the Bar Conference, Baltimore) carries no Workforce Pell item |
The Governor's Workforce Development Board issued Policy Issuance 2026-01, Maryland's Workforce Pell Program Determination Policy, dated July 10, 2026, and its Workforce Pell page states Maryland is now accepting applications from eligible institutions. Maryland uses a single unified ETPL and Workforce Pell application on the Maryland Workforce Exchange, accepted on a rolling basis; GWDB staff conduct a technical review, the cross-agency Workforce Pell Review Committee issues a consensus recommendation to the GWDB Chair, and quarterly state eligibility determinations are issued in August, November, February, and May. Institutions then submit state-certified programs to ED under GENERAL-26-44, MHEC publishes approved programs within 30 days of ED's determination, and the first continuing-eligibility reviews arrive as early as August 2027. The policy (SB 0509 of 2026, Chapter 724, provides the statutory frame) adopts ED's regulations by reference and sets state definitions: high-skill is O*NET Job Zone 3 or higher, and in-demand requires projected annual openings in the top 30 percent statewide plus growth at or above the statewide average, with a Governor's Strategic Designation pathway for occupations the GWDB designates as strategically critical; Registered Apprenticeship programs automatically meet the occupation-alignment and employer-alignment criteria. Appendix D publishes the occupation table: counted from the policy file, 274 occupations, of which 269 are flagged as high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand. A July 8 FAQ for institutions states that Maryland accepted applications beginning July 10, that Year 1 programs already on the ETPL must still file the separate Workforce Pell application on the Maryland Workforce Exchange, and that information-session and office-hours dates are to be posted (contact workforce.pell@maryland.gov). The August determination cycle has produced no posted list or count; the GWDB's next quarterly board meeting is September 23, 2026, followed by December 9. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Massachusetts MA |
Live |
Pilot Applications Open (Due Sep 25) ↗ Open Portal |
Executive Office of Education + Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development / MassHire Department of Career Services (joint leads), with the MassHire State Workforce Board |
Sep 2026 |
EOE / EOLWD / MDCSPilot-year application window open through the Executive Office of Education Grants Management System, submissions due 2:59 pm September 25; the governing document is the 2026-2027 Massachusetts Workforce Pell Pilot Policy (MDCS policy 14-107); the MassHire State Workforce Board's September 17 agenda (posted September 15) carried a Policy Subcommittee discussion-and-vote item on aligning the ETPL with Workforce Pell, with the outcome to appear in later-adopted minutes; first enrollments anticipated early 2027; no occupation list published |
Massachusetts opened its state application process in September 2026: the Governor's office announced that colleges, universities, and eligible training providers can seek state approval to offer short-term programs under Workforce Pell, with applications submitted through the Executive Office of Education Grants Management System (the 2027 Funding Application Supplement for Workforce Pell) no later than 2:59 pm ET on September 25, 2026. Qualifying programs must run 8 to 15 weeks with 150 to 599 clock hours or the credit-hour equivalent, and the state anticipates the first programs enrolling students in early 2027. The governing document is the 2026-2027 Massachusetts Workforce Pell Pilot Policy (MassHire Department of Career Services policy 14-107). The state release is undated in accessible copies and mass.gov blocks automated fetches, so the release and application pages are verified through the search index; regional press covered the announcement September 10. Background: Massachusetts' draft WIOA 2026 State Plan Modification (posted for public comment March 27 to April 25, 2026; the mass.gov file is verified through a Wayback capture because mass.gov blocks automated fetches) carries a section titled "State Strategy for Implementation of Workforce Pell" stating that implementation "will be guided by a coordinated, multi-year strategy led jointly by the Executive Office of Education (EOE) and the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD)/MassHire Department of Career Services (MDCS), in partnership with community colleges, training providers, and employers," using the Regional Occupational Alignment Dashboard and the Eligible Training Provider List to prioritize health care, information technology, and advanced manufacturing programs "ahead of program launch in July 2026." The plan assigns leads and priorities but publishes no approval process, criteria, timeline, or application. Earlier monitoring: the MassHire State Workforce Board's Subcommittee on Policy met February 6, 2026 in Boston with a 30-minute agenda item, "Presentation on Workforce Pell Grant revisions and Q/A discussion" (co-chairs Toni Wolf and Rainer Gawlick; agenda; the agenda PDF text is verified via a Wayback capture, as mass.gov blocks automated fetches), the June 2025 BHE Community College Report flags Workforce Pell as favorable for community college programs such as CNA, medical assisting, phlebotomy, and EMT and tells the board it will need to exercise its statutory authority to determine which programs should qualify, December 9, 2025 BHE minutes note the draft federal regulations and rulemaking timeline, and February 10, 2026 BHE minutes record all fifteen community college presidents advocating for Workforce Pell in Washington and a Deputy Commissioner briefing on the reconciliation law's Workforce Pell provisions. Later 2026 BHE agendas (April 7, May 19, and the June 26 special meeting) carry no Workforce Pell item. The Policy Subcommittee has stayed on the topic: its August 25, 2026 agenda (verified via the search index of the mass.gov file, which blocks automated fetches) carries a 45-minute "Presentation on Workforce Pell Program and Q&A discussion" covering an application window update and student journey navigation; whether the application window discussed is a state institution-facing window is not stated, and no policy, application channel, or occupation list is published. The search index of two earlier board files (neither fetchable, as mass.gov blocks automated access and Wayback holds no copies) indicates the subcommittee's work has moved to occupations: the June 11, 2026 full-board agenda records the Policy Subcommittee updating the board on Workforce Pell, reviewing and recommending occupations for the program, and being assigned to work with EOLWD and EOE on the implementation structure, and the July 14, 2026 subcommittee agenda lists a Workforce Pell presentation covering a refined list of eligible occupations for the pilot year, an employer engagement strategy, and value-added earnings measures (the subcommittee met February 6, April 2, May 8, July 14, and August 25); the refined list itself has not been published. Source, Pilot Policy, WWLP Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Michigan MI |
Live |
Window 1: 37 of 42 Conditionally Approved Jun 22; Letters Unposted ↗ Open Portal |
MiLEAP / LEO (with Michigan Workforce Development Board) |
Jun 22, 2026 |
MiLEAP / LEOThe Michigan Workforce Development Board voted June 22 to conditionally approve 37 of the 42 Window 1 applications, contingent on participant outcome data uploaded via MiTC July 1 to August 1 showing 70 percent completion and placement; approval or denial letters were due by August 2026, and as of September 18 the LEO page posts no confirmation that letters issued and no approved list, with no September board meeting notice posted; Window 2 runs January 15 to February 12, 2027 (letters by April 1, 2027) |
Michigan LEO published its 2026-27 Program Determination Policies and ran institutional applications via Michigan Training Connect (MiTC); the first window closed June 15, 2026, with approval or denial letters expected by August 2026. The LEO page now also posts a student-data upload requirement for Window 1 programs (July 1 to August 1, 2026 via MiTC) and a second application window, January 15 to February 12, 2027, with letters by April 1, 2027. Eligibility runs against the state's 2026-27 Eligible Occupations list, 267 occupations filtered to non-degree entry. Lead is shared between MiLEAP, LEO, and the Michigan Workforce Development Board. Contact: MiLEAP-WFPell@michigan.gov. Window 2 runs January 15 to February 12, 2027 with letters by April 1, 2027; Window 1 programs must upload participant outcome data to MiTC between July 1 and August 1, 2026 to be approved. The state board's draft minutes for its June 22, 2026 quarterly meeting (posted July 6) give the first-window figures: "Michigan received 42 program applications for Workforce Pell in the first application cycle," the interagency implementation team recommended 37 for conditional approval (the others "required modifications to meet federal eligibility requirements"), and the board "voted and unanimously approved" a motion "to grant conditional approval to the 37 recommended Workforce Pell programs, contingent on submission of participant data that demonstrates required completion and job placement rates," with the outcome data reviewed "during the July 2026 Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) system data analysis window." The minutes also record that many recommended programs that did not meet the high-wage criteria are healthcare programs, and the chair asked the working group to examine an interim wage floor for future years; the board's next meeting was described as September, with no notice posted, and no program names or letter confirmations have been published. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Minnesota MN |
Live |
Window Closed Aug 15; Review Underway ↗ Open Portal |
Office of Higher Education (with GWDB and DEED) |
Jul 2026 |
OHE / GWDB / DEEDProvider application deadline (extended to 12:00 pm Aug 15) has passed with no post-window announcement; completeness review, Workforce Pell Review Committee evaluation, recommendation to the Governor's Office, then ED submission |
After the draft public comment closed May 7, 2026, the interagency workgroup finalized the Program Determination Policy and the Office of Higher Education opened a secure data portal June 1. The provider deadline, originally 12:00 pm on June 30, 2026, was extended: as of July 10 the OHE page states providers must submit the application and all required documentation by 12:00 pm on August 15, 2026. No announcement accompanied the change; the extension is documented by the page text itself against its June 30 archived copy. Next steps per OHE are completeness review, Workforce Pell Review Committee evaluation, and recommendation to the Governor's Office for certification and ED submission; OHE will publish the certified-program list within 30 days after final ED approval. Programs must align with the 2026-27 Priority Occupations List (22 occupations drawn from DEED), and tuition must be below three-year Value-Added Earnings. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Mississippi MS |
Live |
Applications Open (AccelerateMS) ↗ Open Portal |
AccelerateMS (Governor's designated state entity), with the State Workforce Investment Board |
Jul 1, 2026 |
AccelerateMSApplications accepted from July 1; completeness review, program review, and SWIB consultation precede governor certification; window dates published per approval cycle |
On June 30, 2026 Governor Reeves announced that the State Workforce Investment Board had approved Mississippi's Workforce Pell policy framework and that institutional applications open July 1, 2026, with AccelerateMS coordinating implementation as the Governor's designated state entity. The published process runs a completeness review (institutions get 10 business days to cure deficiencies), a program quality and eligibility review, SWIB consultation, governor determination and certification under 34 CFR 690.93, and a 15-business-day appeal window. AccelerateMS has said the first Workforce Pell-funded programs are unlikely to reach students before January 2027, with construction, advanced manufacturing, and health care prioritized; no program has been approved yet. SWIB identified three priority sectors: construction, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare. AccelerateMS published the application forms (including the SWIB consultation attestation and governor certification templates) and a preliminary list of 15 potentially eligible programs by CIP and SOC code; inclusion on that list does not constitute approval. Open Campus and Mississippi Today report (July 31, 2026) that AccelerateMS executive director Courtney Taylor expects the first programs to be available to students as early as January 2027, with construction, advanced manufacturing, and health care prioritized. Press release, Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Missouri MO |
Live |
First Application Round Closed Aug 7 ↗ Open Portal |
MO Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD), with the Governor and State Workforce Development Board |
Aug 7, 2026 |
MDHEWDFirst institutional application round closed 5 pm August 7; MDHEWD oversees the approval process against the published state policy and a 29-occupation recommended list, consulting the SWDB and CBHE; per MDHEWD's September 3 release the SWDB's September 2 quarterly meeting received updates on Workforce Pell initiatives and developments, with no round results or counts disclosed; October 13 is the next CBHE venue |
After SB 1196 and HB 2585 died at the May 15 sine die, MDHEWD implemented Workforce Pell administratively, as staff previewed to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education on June 10. By early August the department's Workforce Pell page carries a complete application channel: a Workforce Pell Interest Form, an application checklist, a unique application link issued by email, and a student data template submitted through the state's secure FTP, governed by a published Workforce Pell Program Policy and a SOC-to-CIP table of 29 occupations the page presents as "recommended for approval" (29 distinct SOC codes counted from the table; concentrated in health care, installation and repair trades, construction, sales, education support, and IT, with Registered Apprenticeship related instruction noted as eligible). The institutions page set the submission deadline at 5 pm on Friday, August 7, 2026, closing the first round; no round-opening date was posted and no approved-program list has been published. The page's governance description has the governor designating in-demand industries and identifying eligible instructional program areas in consultation with MDHEWD and the State Workforce Development Board, with MDHEWD providing the labor market and program data analyses and overseeing the application approval process. Stated program requirements mirror the federal rule: 150 to 599 clock hours over 8 to 14 weeks, tuition and fees not exceeding graduates' median earnings, stackable credentials, and completion and job placement rates of at least 70% within 180 days. The policy instrument itself (FINAL v1, dated July 6, 2026) states the occupation list was finalized by the Office of Governor Kehoe on June 15, 2026 and will be reviewed at least every other year on the WIOA State Plan cycle, requires Employer Verification forms from three separate employers per application (Registered Apprenticeship related instruction exempt), and allows appeal of a denial within 15 calendar days; MDHEWD issues a final recommendation to the SWDB and the Governor's Office for official certification, and institutions submit the governor's approval with their E-App to ED. The posted September 1 CBHE board book and the September 2 State Workforce Development Board agenda carried a "Workforce Pell Grant Update" information item (1:10 pm, Samantha Dickey) and no action item, and per MDHEWD's September 3 release the boards met September 1-2 as scheduled: the CBHE agenda carried no Workforce Pell item, while the SWDB's Wednesday session "receiv[ed] updates on several initiatives and recent developments related to the Workforce Pell Grant" (release), with no first-round outcomes or counts disclosed; the remaining 2026 CBHE meetings are October 13 and December 8-9, and the SWDB next meets November 5 (virtual); a September 3 MDHEWD release on Workforce Development Month names Workforce Pell among the initiatives it is highlighting, with no counts. Contact workforcepell@dhewd.mo.gov. Source, Institutions page Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Nebraska NE |
Live |
Three Programs Federally Approved (Sep 14) ↗ Open Portal |
Nebraska Department of Labor (Commissioner Thurber), with the Nebraska Workforce Development Board |
Sep 14, 2026 |
NDOL / NWDBED approved three Metropolitan Community College programs September 14 (Phlebotomy Technician, Pharmacy Technician, CompTIA Tech+ with Google IT Support), making Nebraska the third state with announced federal approvals, per the ED release, with eligible students able to use Pell funds now; applications continue through the NDOL portal, due at least 45 days before a quarterly board meeting; the next meeting is September 18 (9:00 am to noon, NET Center, Lincoln), confirmed by both the portal and a published legal meeting notice, with no agenda posted online; Dec 4 follows |
On September 14, 2026 the U.S. Department of Education approved three Workforce Pell programs at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Phlebotomy Technician, Pharmacy Technician, and CompTIA Tech+ with Google IT Support, "marking it the third state in the nation to receive program approvals" per the ED release, with eligible students able to use Pell Grant dollars in the approved programs now. ED release. On July 8, 2026 Governor Pillen's office issued the formal launch release and the Nebraska Department of Labor published the NE Workforce Pell portal with an online application, six policy documents, and the 2026-27 Initial Eligible Occupation and Program List (effective date May 20, 2026): counted from the posted list, 49 distinct occupations across 129 SOC-CIP pairings, screened through the state's H3 (high-wage, high-skill, high-demand) framework; the governor's release cites 40 occupations mapped to 97 program categories. Applications are due no later than 45 days before a quarterly NWDB meeting (the portal lists the next meetings as September 18 and December 4, 2026, although the board's December 5, 2025 minutes record adopted 2026 dates of March 13, June 12, September 25, and December 4, and no 2026 meeting notice reconciles the September date), and programs must meet the 70 percent completion and 70 percent placement thresholds. Metropolitan Community College is the first institution, with four programs (commercial driver's license, CompTIA Tech+ with Google IT Support, pharmacy technician, and phlebotomy technician) pending federal approval. On July 16, 2026 NDOL added an institutions-and-employers FAQ to the portal detailing the dual duration tests (150 to 599 clock hours and at least 8 but fewer than 15 weeks, both required), the 12-month prior-operation requirement, and portability evidence standards (attestations from at least two unaffiliated employers, labor-market posting evidence, or hiring-pipeline agreements). Community College Daily reported August 4, 2026 that Governor Pillen's July launch visit to Metropolitan Community College highlighted four state-approved programs awaiting final ED approval: Class A CDL, phlebotomy technician, pharmacy technician, and CompTIA Tech+ with Google IT Support; the NDOL page itself posts no approved-program list. Source, governor's release Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Nevada NV |
Live |
Phase 1 Open (NSHE) ↗ Open Portal |
Governor's Office of Workforce Innovation (GOWINN), with NSHE and DETR |
Jul 1, 2026 |
GOWINNPhase 1 (NSHE institutions only) opened July 1 per the published schedule; applications by email to nvworkforcepell@detr.nv.gov; Phase 2 for all non-credit providers is undated |
GOWINN's published phased rollout opened Phase 1 of the application process on July 1, 2026, limited to Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) institutions, with Phase 2 later expanding to all non-credit training providers. Applications and supporting documentation go to nvworkforcepell@detr.nv.gov, a DETR data-sharing agreement is required, and GOWINN, on behalf of the Governor, certifies alignment with labor market needs. As of July 6 the GOWINN page still carries its pre-launch wording and no launch-day announcement has been posted, so the opening rests on the published schedule rather than a fresh state confirmation. No Phase 1 results or Phase 2 opening have been announced. The GOWINN Workforce Pell page returned a server error on September 2, 2026 and was restored by September 3, now carrying post-launch content: the phased-rollout rationale, the email application channel, and an approved-programs placeholder ("Approved programs will be posted here as programs become available"). Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| New Jersey NJ |
Live |
ED Submission Confirmed: One Program (Pilot Year) ↗ Open Portal |
NJ Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) and NJ Department of Labor & Workforce Development |
Sep 2, 2026 |
EDThe state's new NJDOL site confirms New Jersey recommended one program to ED for approval, Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester's patient care technician program, with pilot-year access limited (July 2026 to June 2027) and expansion expected in coming years; federal approval is pending, the site states the pilot-year review cycle is closed, and no dates are posted for future submission cycles |
OSHE and NJDOL ran a program-determination process as joint leads: institutions submitted program and student data by a May 1 deadline so the state could build its eligible-program list, which the governor was to submit to the U.S. Department of Education by July 1, 2026. As of July 31 no public confirmation of the submission or a published program list has been posted, and OSHE's latest broadcasts (July 10) do not mention it. The State Employment and Training Commission, the state workforce board, received an overview of the program's launch year at its June 17 meeting (announced in OSHE's June 10 broadcast, still the latest Workforce Pell broadcast before September). The submission question resolved on September 2, 2026: an OSHE broadcast announced that NJDOL, with OSHE and the interagency working group, launched a public Workforce Pell website, and the site provides the first public confirmation and size of the state's ED submission: "During the pilot year (July 2026 to June 2027), access to eligible programs will be limited. The State of New Jersey has recommended one program to the US Department of Education for approval, a patient care technician program offered by Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester. The program is expected to expand in the coming years." The site posts a Policies and Procedures Handbook and a Data Collection Memo; its approved-programs page lists the Rowan program under a "Governor recommendation" column and states that "USED conducts its own final review and transmits approval directly to the providers," and its provider page answers the next-cycle question with "The current Workforce Pell pilot year review cycle in New Jersey is closed," directing institutions to watch the site for future submission cycles. New Jersey's one-program pilot submission is the narrowest first-year posture among live states that have disclosed a count. Source, NJDOL site Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| New Mexico NM |
Live |
Applications Open (Rolling, NMHED Portal) ↗ Open Portal |
NM Higher Education Department (with NM Department of Workforce Solutions) |
Sep 8, 2026 |
NMHED / NMDWSRolling AY 2026-27 applications through the NMHED Academic Affairs portal (account registration precedes submission); the page's FAQ now states NMHED expects the full approval process to take at least 4 to 6 months through the five-stage chain (staff review, leadership review, State Workforce Board committee, Governor's Office, ED); no fixed deadline is posted and the state-approved program list is forthcoming |
NMHED and NMDWS jointly convened a Workforce Pell Advisory Group of higher ed and industry stakeholders. The Group has met biweekly since April, most recently June 17, 2026, developing approval processes, eligibility definitions, oversight, and outcome metrics, and has posted working documents: draft High Skill-High Wage definitions and a verification-process framework (June 3 meeting) and a definitions-and-scenarios document (June 17). Between June 30 and July 24, 2026 the NMHED page added occupation definitions presented without a draft label (high-wage: median wage at or above the statewide all-occupation median; in-demand: top quartile of projected annual openings for the MSA or workforce region, with above-average projected growth) and a "How institutions apply" section directing institutions to register for the Academic Affairs online portal and await account approval. By July 28, 2026 the dedicated application page points institutions to the production Academic Affairs portal (academicaffairs.nmhed.us, no longer the test environment) with account-request registration, and states that applications are accepted on a rolling basis for award year 2026-27, with review taking several months from initial submission through final federal approval and a state-approved program list forthcoming on the NMHED site; no fixed deadline or window is posted. With a live submission channel open to institutions, the process is counted as operational. The page has since added an occupation and industry eligibility workbook dated August 17, 2026 (file posted August 19) for institutions to check program alignment, and an Upcoming Webinars block inviting institutions to either of two Microsoft Teams information sessions, September 8 (1:30 to 3:00 pm) and October 15 (10:00 to 11:30 am), with RSVP by form; the review chain stated on the page runs NMHED review, the Workforce Pell Committee of the State Workforce Board, the Governor's Office, and ED, and the state-approved list is still to be posted once final approvals issue. On September 2, 2026 NMHED issued its formal launch announcement, "New Mexico launches Workforce Pell application for colleges": institutions "can now submit eligible short-term workforce programs" for review, NMHED and NMDWS "will jointly evaluate applications for program quality and alignment with New Mexico's workforce needs before approved programs are submitted to the State Workforce Development Board for consultation, the Governor's office for endorsement and the U.S. Department of Education for final approval," and applications "will be accepted on a rolling basis for the 2026-27 academic year"; the release gives no counts or deadline. The September 8 information session was held as scheduled, and its slide deck is posted on the application page; the second session remains October 15, and no first approvals are posted. Contacts nmhed.policy@hed.nm.gov and nmdws.economicresearch@dws.nm.gov. Source, Advisory Group Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| New York NY |
Live |
Applications Open (NYSDOL Portal) ↗ Open Portal |
NYS Department of Labor (Commissioner Reardon), with the Workforce Pell Advisory Committee |
Aug 24, 2026 |
NYSDOL / Advisory CommitteeOnline institution application open on a rolling basis; the Workforce Pell Advisory Committee (Governor's Office, NYSDOL, SUNY, CUNY, and private nonprofit and for-profit college representatives) meets monthly to review and recommend programs; no application deadline or approved-program list posted |
On August 24, 2026 Governor Hochul announced that New York's Workforce Pell application portal is open for institutions to submit programs, moving the state from a posted draft plan to an operational process. The New York State Department of Labor administers the program, and a newly established Workforce Pell Advisory Committee, with representatives from the Governor's Office, NYSDOL, SUNY, CUNY, and private nonprofit and for-profit colleges, reviews applications monthly. Programs must run 150 to 599 clock hours over at least 8 and under 15 weeks, align to high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations under the state's WIOA Combined State Plan or Perkins V plan, meet 70 percent completion and 70 percent job placement measured 180 days after completion, and have operated for at least 12 months; the announcement names priority sectors from advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence to nursing and green energy. Earlier system-level activity (SUNY's student-facing Workforce Pell page, LaGuardia/CUNY's ~$2M FIPSE grant) now sits inside a state process. The committee page sets its meetings on the fourth Monday of each month (next September 28) and charges the committee with program review, certification, appeals, and an updated decision database. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| North Carolina NC |
Live |
Approvals Expanded Sep 16 (54 Programs, 21 Colleges) ↗ Open Portal |
NCWorks Commission (lead, designated by Governor Stein); NCCCS |
Sep 16, 2026 |
EDState approvals now stand at 54 programs at 21 colleges after the September 16 special meeting expanded the August 12 set of 43 at 16; institutions seek federal approval from ED, with no announced federal action on any North Carolina program yet; the regular quarterly cycle continues (submissions by October 15 for November 18 review) |
On June 23, 2026 Governor Stein and the NCWorks Commission announced that Workforce Pell applications are open: institutions apply through the existing Eligible Training Provider List at nc.works/ETPL and submit the additional Workforce Pell information. The first-cycle window closed July 15, 2026 on schedule; submissions are reviewed August 12, then on a quarterly cycle (October 15 submissions reviewed November 18). On August 12, 2026 the NCWorks Commission announced its first state-level approvals: 43 programs at 16 community colleges, with the approved-program list posted; those programs must now seek federal approval from ED, and the next quarterly cycle takes submissions by October 15 for November 18 review (NC Commerce). An updated NCCCS analysis in July 2026 found that fewer than 1 percent of North Carolina community college programs meet all eligibility requirements, down from a 4 percent February estimate. The framework rests on Commission Policy CPS 04-2026 and an eligible occupations list of 364 occupations (health care, skilled trades, engineering, and more). The cycle is quarterly: submissions by October 15, 2026 are reviewed at the November 18 Commission meeting, with January 15 and April 15, 2027 deadlines following. At its August 12, 2026 business session the Commission, acting on behalf of Governor Stein, approved the state's first 43 programs at 16 community colleges (counted from the posted list: 43 program rows, 16 distinct institutions, from Beaufort County to Wake Tech), concentrated in nurse aide and CNA, phlebotomy, EMT and paramedic, fire academy, truck driving and CDL, electrical lineworker, welding, BioWork, IT support, and mechatronics; each institution now proceeds to seek final approval from the U.S. Department of Education. The Commission held its virtual special meeting on September 16, 2026 (1:00 to 1:30 pm, Zoom), with "Workforce Pell Pending Program Approvals" the action item on the posted agenda, and the approved-program list was updated the same day (the page is marked last modified September 16, 2026) to 54 programs at 21 community colleges, counted from the posted list: 54 program rows and 21 distinct institutions, adding 11 programs and five colleges (Brunswick, Cleveland, Johnston, Richmond, and Rowan-Cabarrus) to the August 12 set. No press release or meeting minutes for the September 16 action are posted yet. Source, approved-program list Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Ohio OH |
Live |
Applications Open; First Submissions Reported ↗ Open Portal |
Ohio Department of Higher Education (with OACC) |
Aug 3, 2026 |
ODHEApplications accepted year-round and reviewed as received (ODHE "may establish a submission schedule in the future"); denied institutions may appeal within 14 business days of notification using the posted ODHE appeals form; the page commits to public posting of all approved programs, and no approved-program roster is posted |
The Ohio Department of Higher Education published Workforce Pell guidance and accepts program applications from Title IV-eligible institutions year-round, reviewed as received: an institution applies to ODHE, which determines whether each program is eligible. Programs must align with occupations on Ohio's Top Jobs list, lead to a stackable, portable credential that articulates to academic credit, and document employer validation (job postings, employer letters, workforce board letters, or advisory-board minutes; Registered Apprenticeships are deemed to meet the employer requirement per the ODHE policy). highered.ohio.gov returned a site-wide 404 from about June 30 through at least July 6 and is reachable again as of July 7; the guidance was unchanged by the outage. At a SHEEO convening reported by Inside Higher Ed on August 7, 2026, Chancellor Mike Duffey named CDL, nursing, and firefighter programs as Ohio's strongest early Workforce Pell candidates. The ODHE page has since added an appeals process (denied institutions appeal within 14 business days of notification, by form to workforcepell@highered.ohio.gov), a program eligibility flowchart, an eligible CIP code list tied to Ohio's Top Jobs list, and a Student Program Completion Tracking Sheet, states that ODHE "may establish a submission schedule in the future," and commits to publicly posting all approved programs. Contact workforcepell@highered.ohio.gov. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Oregon OR |
Live |
Approval Portal Open (HECC Partner Portal) ↗ Open Portal |
Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) with Workforce and Talent Development Board |
Aug 26, 2026 |
HECCOnline program approval portal open through the HECC Partner Portal; HECC approves programs onto the state list on the Governor's behalf, then each institution files the State Workforce Pell Certification Form with ED through E-App; no application deadline, review calendar, or approved-program list posted |
Oregon's application channel is open: the HECC Workforce Pell page now states that "the HECC has developed an online program approval portal through which institutions of higher education may submit programs to be approved by the state," links institutions to the HECC Partner Portal, and posts a 29-page Workforce Pell External Portal Guide (file created August 26, 2026), replacing the earlier "in development" language; applicants need an OPEID, a program participation agreement, credit articulation evidence, and multi-factor authentication, and after state approval the institution submits the State Workforce Pell Certification Form to ED through E-App (support: hecc.workforcepell@hecc.oregon.gov). No window, deadline, or approved list is posted. Earlier, HECC posted the final Oregon Workforce Pell Policy, dated July 29, 2026 with a stated effective date of July 1, 2026, after public comment on the draft closed July 17; the implementation page now says the state framework "is now finalized." Under the policy, HECC approves programs onto an Oregon Workforce Pell Approved Program List on the Governor's behalf in consultation with the Workforce and Talent Development Board; approved programs must reapply for continued eligibility at least biennially (automated portal reminders 45 days before expiration), and a Significant Change, defined as 30 percent or more cumulative curriculum change, requires reapproval. State definitions draw on Oregon Employment Department frameworks (high-skill: postsecondary non-degree training, apprenticeship, or comparable preparation; high-wage: above the statewide or area all-occupation median, or strong wage growth; in-demand: projected annual openings above the occupation median), and an occupation may also qualify as critical to an in-demand industry sector. HECC posts the eligible-occupation lists as workbooks on the Workforce Pell page: a statewide workbook (file dated August 6, 2026) of 6,093 SOC-to-CIP pairings covering 868 distinct occupations, each flagged high-demand, high-skill, high-wage, and industry-critical, of which 735 occupations carry at least one qualifying flag (counted from the file September 4: 532 high-wage, 492 high-skill, 421 high-demand, 40 industry-critical, and 133 with no flag), plus eight regional workbooks (East Cascades, Eastern Oregon, Lane, Mid-Valley, Northwest Oregon, Portland Tri-County, Rogue Valley, and Southwestern Oregon) that apply area wage and demand thresholds. The earlier "coming soon" language for the portal and institutional FAQ no longer appears on the page, and HECC re-issued the External Portal Guide on September 2, 2026 (same title and 29-page length; the page's webinar and office-hours link points to FSA Partner Connect rather than a HECC schedule). Per OPB/KLCC reporting on July 1, 2026, HECC's Office of Workforce Investments (director Julia Pontoni) planned to begin reviewing program applications in August 2026, with most programs expected to reach students in 2027-28; target sectors are health care, social services, construction, and technology. Contact HECC.WorkforcePell@HECC.oregon.gov. Source, OPB Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania PA |
Live |
Approved List Posted (2 of 40) ↗ Open Portal |
PA Department of Education + State Workforce Development Board |
Jul 8, 2026 |
PDE / SWDBApproved list posted: 2 of 40 submitted programs approved for 2026-27; denied institutions may appeal within 30 days of notification; federal approval still required before Workforce Pell funding |
PDE posted the final approved program list for 2026-27 on its published July schedule (page updated July 8, 2026): 11 institutions submitted 40 programs, and 2 were approved, both heavy and tractor-trailer truck driving programs (Douglas Education Center's Commercial Driver's License and Rosedale Technical College's Truck Driving; CIP 49.0205, SOC 53-3032). Institution applications had run March 9 to April 17, 2026 against PDE's 19-occupation list (entry wage at least $23,475 and 100+ projected annual openings), one of the most curated in the country. The PA Workforce Development Board's August 5 briefing book publishes the May 19 minutes: PDE reported 40 programs received from 11 institutions, presented the two that met all criteria, and the board voted unanimously to endorse them ahead of the Governor's approval; the August 5 agenda carried no Workforce Pell item, and the board next meets November 10. Denied institutions may appeal within 30 days of notification; appeals may not challenge the underlying regulation, and denied programs may reapply in later cycles. PDE notes that placement on the commonwealth list does not by itself authorize Workforce Pell funding absent subsequent federal approval. Source, approved list (xlsx) Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Rhode Island RI |
Live |
Pilot Window Closed Sep 16; Determinations November ↗ Open Portal |
RI Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner (RIOPC), with the Governor's Office and the Department of Labor and Training |
Sep 16, 2026 |
RIOPCThe pilot application window closed September 16 with no submission counts announced (late submissions defer to award year 2027-28); the multi-tier internal review with Governor's Workforce Board consultation runs through the fall, and the RI Postsecondary Commissioner, as the governor's designee, issues determination notices in November 2026 before ED submission; the September 17 Governor's Workforce Board full-board agenda carried no Workforce Pell item; no approved-program list posted yet |
The Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner opened a pilot Workforce Pell application process for the 2026-2027 year, framed as a pilot to protect students' Pell lifetime eligibility while programs are vetted. Governor McKee's office announced the opening on August 14, 2026, and RIOPC's Application Guidelines (dated August 14) set the pilot window at August 14 through September 16, 2026, with late submissions deferred to award year 2027-28. Eligible programs must run 8 to 15 weeks, articulate to academic credit on completion (the state's August FAQ states that both credit and non-credit programs are eligible if they meet all criteria, with a documented pathway to a credit-bearing program), and align to one of Rhode Island's 20 priority occupations (counted from the published list: each meets the state's high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand criteria, spanning welders, electricians, plumbers, heavy truck drivers, nursing and dental roles, machinists, and computer support). Institutions submit a Program Data Submission file and employer validation by email to workforcepell@riopc.edu; the guidelines' timeline runs internal multi-tiered review August to November, Governor's Workforce Board consultation September to October, determination notices from the RI Postsecondary Commissioner, as the governor's designee, in November 2026, and appeals mid-November to mid-December. The process is led by RIOPC with the Governor's Office and the Department of Labor and Training. Source, guidelines Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| South Carolina SC |
Live |
Applications Open (SCWOS) ↗ Open Portal |
SC Department of Employment and Workforce (administrator), under the Coordinating Council for Workforce Development by governor delegation, with the State Workforce Development Board |
Jul 30, 2026 |
DEW / CCWDDEW's revised page (July 23) presents the SCWOS application as open with no window language, while State Instruction 25-18's quarterly-window terms remain posted; SWDB committee and a CCWD working group review concurrently and the CCWD Executive Committee makes the final determination; a sitewide notice says the PATh ETPL system is migrating into SCWOS, with PATh inaccessible to providers from September 22 and completion targeted September 25, ahead of the October 1 quarterly window |
Governor McMaster delegated core Workforce Pell responsibilities to the Coordinating Council for Workforce Development (CCWD), in consultation with the State Workforce Development Board, with DEW administering the program. State Instruction 25-18, issued June 26, 2026 and effective July 1, 2026, sets quarterly application windows through SC Works Online Services (opening the first business day of each quarter for 15 business days) toward a state Eligible Workforce Pell List, with a one-year initial eligibility period followed by continued-eligibility review. Initial implementation targets a pilot eligible-occupations list of 24 occupations concentrated in health care, construction and heavy equipment, welding and machining, and commercial driving. On July 20, 2026 DEW issued a news release announcing Governor McMaster's designation of DEW as the state entity implementing Workforce Pell, with the CCWD and SWDB working groups supporting the CCWD Executive Committee's provider determinations. The Q3 window's 15-business-day term under the instruction ran through July 22, and on July 23, 2026 DEW revised the page: the quarterly-window and next-window language no longer appears and the application is presented as open through SCWOS with the provider attestation form, while State Instruction 25-18, still posted, continues to set quarterly windows opening the first business day of each quarter. On July 30, 2026 DEW added a blank Letter of Certification, the CCWD Executive Committee's per-program certification instrument: it cites 34 CFR 690.93(a) and 690.94(a)(2)(i), requires that a program have met eligibility requirements for at least the 12 months preceding certification, and records per-program completion and job-placement rates, so the certification stage is being tooled before any list entry has posted. No posted document reconciles the two window readings, and no application counts or Eligible Workforce Pell List entries have been published. Contact WFPell@dew.sc.gov. Source, DEW release Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| South Dakota SD |
Live |
Inaugural Window Closed Aug 31; Decisions By Oct 30 ↗ Open Portal |
SD Department of Labor & Regulation (Governor / Secretary of Labor determine) |
Aug 31, 2026 |
DLRInaugural application window runs Jul 1 to Aug 31 with determinations by Oct 30; DLR expects first submissions to ED in November 2026 |
On July 7, 2026 Governor Rhoden announced that Workforce Pell applications are open, and the Department of Labor and Regulation published a full process: a Workforce Pell Policy (updated June 6) with application windows, a Qualifying Occupations List (counted from the posted list, 56 occupations via the labor-market pathway; Governor strategic designations and Registered Apprenticeship related instruction are additional pathways), the application plus Competency Review, Articulation to Credit, and Employer Validation forms, and SDWORKS/ETPL integration. Occupations qualify when high-skill (O*NET Job Zone 3+), high-wage (at or above the state median), and in-demand (positive projected change plus above-average openings) are all met; every application needs at least three Employer Validation Forms. The inaugural window ran July 1 to August 31, 2026 and closed on its posted end date, with determinations by October 30 and first submissions to ED expected in November; as of September 2 DLR has posted no close announcement or submission counts. Recurring windows are March 1 to April 30 and September 1 to October 31. The list is updated at least every two years. Source, policy Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Tennessee TN |
Live |
Applications Open (TDLWD/THEC) ↗ Open Portal |
TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development + Tennessee Higher Education Commission; State Workforce Development Board grants final state approval |
Aug 2026 |
TDLWD / THECPortal open with no posted deadline; TDLWD's August newsletter reports that "only a handful" of institutions had submitted programs since July 1 and "none were eligible"; joint TDLWD and THEC review, State Workforce Development Board approval, then governor certification and ED submission; the posted August 28 quarterly-meeting agenda carries no Workforce Pell item, leaving November 6 as the next board venue |
Tennessee launched Workforce Pell administratively after its enabling bills failed: SB 2193 / HB 2617 (Taylor / Hill) died at the April 23 sine die, and on July 1, 2026 TDLWD and THEC jointly announced the program launch and opened an application portal carrying a Workforce Pell Grant Framework Policy, application guidance with checklists and templates, an employer validation form, and an FAQ. Programs must meet 70% completion and 70% job placement (within 180 days per the release), employer validation, stackable-credential, and in-demand, high-skill, or high-wage alignment requirements. The state published its CIP-SOC crosswalk on the portal in mid-July (the July 2 archived copy still listed it as under development): counted from the page table, 393 CIP codes mapping to 306 SOC occupations, an alignment-checking tool for institutions rather than a curated occupation list. Review is jointly led by TDLWD and THEC with final state approval by the State Workforce Development Board, which meets quarterly; its remaining 2026 meetings are August 28 and November 6, the scheduled venues for first board approvals. As of July 22 the portal posts no deadline and no approved programs ("Approved Workforce Pell programs will be posted here once available"). Press release, Source The agenda for the board's August 28 meeting, posted in the week of the meeting, carries no Workforce Pell item; the board's last Workforce Pell action remains the June 23 framework-policy approval. TDLWD's August 2026 FOCUS newsletter gives the first account of uptake: "Since Tennessee launched its Workforce Pell application portal July 1, only a handful of higher education institutions have submitted training programs for approval. None were eligible," attributing the slow response to the few existing programs that meet the requirements and to the one-year operating rule for new programs, and reporting that Assistant Commissioner Jay Baker planned an August webinar with community colleges and technical schools; THEC's Julie Roberts noted the policy lets the State Workforce Board flag emerging needs. As of September 8 the portal still posts no approved programs and the August 28 board minutes are not yet posted. Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Texas TX |
Live |
Applications Closed Sep 1; Next Cycle Nov 2 to Dec 11 ↗ Open Portal |
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (with TWC and TWIC) |
Sep 2, 2026 |
THECB / TWC / TWICThe extended application window closed September 1 and the THECB portal is marked Application Closed; more than 60 programs submitted per THECB, with review, TWIC input, governor certification, and ED submission ahead; the TWIC briefing book for the September 11 meeting publishes the next submission cycles, November 2 to December 11, 2026 and June 1 to 30, 2027, which the THECB portal does not yet show; no minutes or outputs from the September 11 meeting are posted yet |
THECB published the Workforce Pell Grant Program guidance and opened the institutional Eligibility Certification Form via Qualtrics, with a two-step submission (eligibility certification plus program and student data). The submission window closed June 19, 2026 (extended from June 5), and on July 24, 2026 Governor Abbott announced Texas is extending the application period; the extended window carried a posted deadline of September 1, 2026, and as of September 2 the portal is marked Application Closed, with the page noting that federal guidance for Workforce Pell approvals is in development. Submitted programs continue through THECB review, Texas Workforce Investment Council input, and the recommended list to Governor Abbott for final certification and ED submission. The portal notes THECB certification is not final approval: final certification and approval come from the governor and the U.S. Department of Education. Per THECB, institutions had submitted more than 60 programs as of late July (many in health care, advanced manufacturing, transportation, and information technology, per a THECB spokesperson to El Paso Matters), and the first state-level certifications have been reported: the Weatherford Democrat reports THECB notified Weatherford College on July 23, 2026 that its HVAC, Basic Machining, and Advanced Machining programs meet state certification requirements, with the college then starting its federal submission; El Paso Community College reports two programs (phlebotomy and certified nursing assistant) submitted and awaiting decisions, and the San Antonio Report (August 15) reports THECB has state-certified Alamo Colleges' commercial driver's license program, which now awaits ED action. THECB posts no certified-program list. TWIC's posted schedule lists its remaining 2026 meetings as September 11 and December 4, so formal council action at a public meeting would land September 11 at the earliest, though TWIC input need not occur at one. The Texas Workforce Investment Council's September 11 briefing book (posted September 2) carries item II.6, "Update on the Workforce Pell Grant," as a briefing rather than an action: the THECB memo states that "THECB closed the application period on September 1" and that applications "must be reviewed and approved by OOG and the U.S. Department of Education," and the attached THECB handout publishes the next application submission cycles, November 2 to December 11, 2026 and June 1 to 30, 2027, alongside the screen (25 qualifying occupations, 362 eligible programs of study, median wage above $47,499, at least 400 projected jobs over 10 years, 70 percent completion and 70 percent employment within 180 days); no submission count appears in the book. Eligibility runs against the TWC statewide Target Occupations List: THECB's published WPG Eligible Occupations and Programs crosswalk maps 25 eligible occupations to roughly 363 CIP program codes (the September TWIC handout says 362 eligible programs of study). Governor Abbott separately announced ~$17M in state short-term training grants (TRUE/TIME). Source, San Antonio Report, extension release Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Wisconsin WI |
Live |
Applications Open (Rolling, DWD) ↗ Open Portal |
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (governor's designee), in consultation with the Governor's Council on Workforce Investment |
Aug 24, 2026 |
DWD / CWIRolling online applications through DWD's AccessGov form; DWD intake and completeness review and a Workforce Pell Review Committee evaluation precede CWI consultation, with a formal vote at a quarterly full-council meeting, then state approval by the DWD Secretary on the governor's behalf; no approved-program list posted |
Governor Evers approved the State Workforce Pell Program Administration and Implementation Policy on July 20, 2026, delegating authority to the DWD Secretary to effectuate approvals on his behalf. The policy (DET-20196-P, July 2026) is published on the CWI Workforce Pell page together with an open online application (AccessGov form DET-20176-E), accepted on a rolling basis; the page and application were observed live August 18, 2026, resolving the July reporting in which a DWD spokesperson said the application had no official start date. The process is multi-tier: DWD administers, conducting intake and completeness review and coordinating a Workforce Pell Review Committee; CWI consultation occurs at the council's quarterly full-council meetings with a formal vote to approve or deny; and the DWD Secretary issues state approval under the July 20 delegation before institutions submit to ED. The policy names DWD's Hot Jobs list as the primary source for in-demand occupations, and DWD is to publish a Workforce Pell priority occupation list and a SOC/CIP crosswalk for institutions; neither has been posted, so Wisconsin is not yet on the comparison page. The page restates the statutory criteria (150 to 599 clock hours, 8 to 15 weeks, articulation into a related certificate or degree, a recognized postsecondary credential, and at least 12 months of operation). Earlier, on July 1 the Wisconsin Technical College System president welcomed the launch of DWD's portal, while a July 6 DWD statement said eligibility criteria were still being established. The page now also posts a recorded Implementation and Application Webinar dated August 24, 2026; no approved-program list is posted. The council consultation venue has already convened once under the policy: DWD's public meeting notices show the CWI Executive Committee took up the "Workforce Pell review process" on August 20, 2026 and the CWI Full Council met August 27, 2026 in De Pere with a "Workforce Pell Update" agenda item and no Workforce Pell action item; no September council meeting is noticed; the CWI meetings data lists an Employer Committee meeting September 23, an Executive Committee meeting November 4, and the next Full Council meeting November 17, 2026 (details to be announced), and the August 27 packet's committee report records the policy as published July 21 and the technical-assistance webinar as held August 24, with no applications, counts, or approvals reported. Source, state policy Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Alaska AK |
In Progress |
Draft Framework Presented to AWIB |
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DETS intake) with the Alaska Workforce Investment Board, ACPE, and the Governor's Office |
Aug 4, 2026 |
DOLWD / AWIB / Governor's OfficeA condensed draft implementation framework was presented to AWIB on August 4; it leaves the written designation of the certifying authority, public certification criteria, the AWIB review process, and the intake channel as open decisions, with a 0-to-180-day roadmap toward a 2-to-5-program pilot; no portal, occupation list, or formal designation posted |
The Alaska Workforce Investment Board's August meeting materials include an Alaska Workforce Pell Master Implementation Framework, Condensed Decision-Maker Draft (working draft dated July 2026, 8 pages), presented as the "AK Workforce Pell Update" by DOLWD Assistant Director Jeff Steeprow on August 4, 2026. The draft assigns roles (Governor or designee as certifying authority; AWIB for consultation, high-wage and in-demand methodology, and certification recommendations; the Division of Employment and Training Services as intake administrator through the ETPL and AlaskaJobs; ACPE for Title IV and institutional-readiness coordination) and lays out a 0-to-180-day roadmap: designate the authority, publish draft policy and an ETPL addendum, pilot two to five programs, then process first-wave applications. It is marked draft and lists the written designation, public criteria, review process, data minimums, and appeals as still undecided. Earlier, ACPE's Summer 2026 commission meeting packet (meeting held July 23, 2026) reports that ACPE staff, Alaska Workforce Investment Board leadership, and a Governor's Office representative "are meeting regularly to develop the framework for institutions to submit eligible programs for state approval and create the oversight and monitoring structure to ensure ongoing eligibility," with updates going to all Alaska Title IV institutions quarterly. This extends the joint effort first described in the April 16, 2026 spring packet, which named establishing the review and approval process as the quarter's significant focus area; the Governor's Office is now explicitly at the table. Alaska also attended the NGA Workforce Pell Implementation Lab in Washington, DC on May 5 to 7, 2026. University of Alaska remarks in the winter commission minutes estimate at least 110 potentially qualifying short-term programs. No portal, occupation list, or formal designation has been posted. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| California CA |
In Progress |
Presented to Governor Sep 8; CSAC Portal Opens Oct 1 |
CCC Chancellor's Office / CSAC / CWDB |
Sep 8, 2026 |
Governor NewsomAB 1534 cleared both chambers unanimously: the Senate passed it 40-0 on August 27 and the Assembly concurred in the Senate amendments 78-0 on August 28, the bill was formally enrolled September 2 and presented to the Governor on September 8, and the Governor has until September 30 to sign or veto; in parallel, CSAC's Workforce Pell page (updated September 3) announces the institution application portal opening October 1, 2026 and a December 15 letter-of-interest deadline for institutions without EDD data-sharing agreements, staging the bill's process ahead of signature |
AB 1534 (Irwin) passed the Assembly floor 61-10 on May 21, 2026 with EDGE Coalition co-sponsorship. In the Senate, the Education Committee reported it do pass 7-0 on June 25, and on July 1, 2026 the Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee passed it 5-0 and re-referred it to Senate Appropriations, which on August 3, 2026 referred the bill to its suspense file (a fiscal hold). On August 13, 2026 Appropriations passed it out 7-0 (do pass) and it was read a second time and ordered to third reading. On August 19, 2026 the bill was read a third time on the Senate floor, amended, and ordered back to second reading, and on August 20 it was read a second time and ordered to third reading, so the amended bill now sits on the Senate third-reading file with a floor vote, Assembly concurrence in the floor amendments, and the Governor remaining before the August 31 session end. Governor Newsom's May Revision budget includes $664,000 to support state Workforce Pell implementation. Separately, the California Student Aid Commission has posted an informational Workforce Pell page, the first state-agency administrative surface: it summarizes student and program eligibility (programs must have operated at least one year as of June 30, 2026 and be approved by the State of California) with webinar and FAQ marked coming soon (a Workforce Pell FAQ PDF dated July 10 is now linked from the page), states that CSAC determines Workforce Pell program eligibility, and scheduled a dedicated Workforce Pell rollout discussion at its August 6 Commission Retreat; the Community Colleges Chancellor's Office has issued no implementation memo. An administrative track is now moving in parallel with the bill: EdSource reported that a statewide Workforce Pell task force convened out of CSAC's August 6 meeting held its first meeting August 19, 2026, aiming to stand up a pilot application portal and emergency regulations, with CSAC executive director Daisy Gonzales saying a five-month timeline would let the state "test pilot our very first Workforce Pell recipients this fall"; the Chancellor's Office estimates roughly 3,000 community college programs could meet the eligibility requirements. On August 21 the bill was read a third time on the Senate floor, amended a second time, and ordered back to second reading, still short of a floor vote with the session ending August 31; on August 24 it was read a second time and returned to the third-reading file, and on August 27, 2026 the Senate passed it 40-0 and ordered it to the Assembly. On August 28, 2026 the Assembly concurred in the Senate amendments 78-0 and the bill history records "To Engrossing and Enrolling," so AB 1534 has cleared both chambers unanimously; the bill status page records Enrolled Date: September 2, 2026, and the bill history adds "Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m." on September 8, 2026; the bill is on the Governor's desk with no chaptering or veto entry yet, and Governor Newsom has until September 30 to sign or veto. The administrative track has now put dates on the calendar ahead of signature: CSAC's Workforce Pell page, updated September 3, 2026, states that the "Application for Programs & Institutions Portal for eligible institutions" opens October 1, 2026, and adds a letter-of-interest track that mirrors the bill's text: institutions without an existing data-sharing agreement with the Employment Development Department under Section 1095 of the Unemployment Insurance Code must submit a letter of interest to CSAC and the Office of Cradle-to-Career Data by December 15, 2026 (and each December 15 thereafter) stating the number and names of programs seeking eligibility, the sector or occupation on the list prepared under Education Code 69871 each program aligns with, and average class size; applications from those institutions may not be accepted until future legislation specifies how equivalent data will be provided, with details marked "coming soon." Source, EdSource Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Connecticut CT |
In Progress |
Draft Determination Policy Out for Comment (Due Oct 19) |
CT Office of Workforce Strategy, with the Governor's Workforce Council |
Sep 18, 2026 |
OWS / GWCThe day after the Governor's Workforce Council's September 17 meeting, whose agenda carried "Workforce Pell" as a vote item, OWS posted the draft Connecticut Workforce Pell Eligible Program Determination Policy for public comment on the Council's behalf, with comments to gwc@ct.gov due October 19; the draft assigns final state approval authority to the GWC with a Workforce Pell Review Committee, OWS as central coordinator, and the Office of Higher Education administering the application process; no application is open and no vote record is posted |
Governor Lamont named the Office of Workforce Strategy (OWS) as the state lead on March 19, 2026, coordinating with CT Office of Higher Ed, DOL, CSCU, UConn, and regional workforce boards. The Governor's Workforce Council (GWC) minutes, posted August 17, 2026, document the design work since: at the March 19 quarterly meeting OWS Chief Workforce Officer Kelli-Marie Vallieres presented the policy as taking effect "beginning in January 2027," outlined accountability standards (alignment with high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand occupations, stackability, portability, and demonstrated earnings gains), and described a proposed "two-filter test for program eligibility," with priority sectors of manufacturing, healthcare, bioscience, and technology and a goal of "solid recommendations for the governor's office by the third quarter." The June 11, 2026 meeting (draft minutes) took updates from four workgroups, Employment and Credentialing, Credit Articulation, Applications, Renewals, and Appeals, and Data and Evaluation, and recorded that the Council "works to finalize recommendations related to Workforce Pell" at its next meeting, "noting that the Governor will make key policy decisions while the Governor's Workforce Council will provide recommendations to inform those decisions." The third-quarter GWC meeting was held September 17, 2026 (2 to 4 pm, virtual), with the posted draft agenda listing "Workforce Pell" as a vote item, and on September 18 OWS, on the Council's behalf, posted the draft Connecticut Workforce Pell Eligible Program Determination Policy for public comment, with comments to gwc@ct.gov due October 19, 2026. The 37-page draft adopts ED's Workforce Pell regulations by reference and assigns roles: the GWC retains final state approval authority in coordination with a Workforce Pell Review Committee, OWS serves as central coordinator, the Office of Higher Education administers the application and review process and publishes deadlines and review-cycle timelines, and DataLinkCT defines the outcome-data windows for each application cycle. Denied programs may not reapply with the same four-digit CIP code in the application window following the denial, and appeals run through OHE's application platform. Appendix A carries a draft 2026-2027 Priority Sectors and Occupations List of 134 distinct SOC codes (counted from the draft) across four sectors: technology, manufacturing, healthcare, and construction/trades. No application process is open, and no meeting minutes or vote record are posted yet. Source, GWC meetings and minutes Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Hawaii HI |
In Progress |
Working Group; Policy and Criteria Due to Council by Nov 12 |
DLIR Workforce Development Division / Workforce Development Council (with DOE, UH, and UH Community Colleges) |
Sep 10, 2026 |
DLIR / WDCThe September 10 board meeting was held and the posted minutes confirm Workforce Pell appeared only in the Executive Director's report, as "progress on Workforce Pell implementation with an anticipated first disbursement in August-September 2027," with no board vote on policy or criteria; the Council is still to approve policy and criteria by its next quarterly meeting, tentatively November 12 |
SB 3282 and companion HB 2383, which would have created a Workforce Pell approval committee in statute, died at the May 8 sine die (DLIR testified against the bill's structure and its UI data-sharing provision). Implementation is proceeding administratively: the WDC's May 21, 2026 board materials state that the Governor, in coordination with the Council, will be responsible for establishing the approval framework and approving or denying program applications, and list Workforce Pell working-group deliberations and an Eligible Training Provider List task force among 2026 Q2-Q3 priorities, with DLIR, DOE, UH, and UH Community Colleges participating under National Governors Association guidance. The Council's August 3, 2026 Synergy Summit board agenda and packet carry no Workforce Pell text. On September 4, 2026 the WDC posted the agenda and 183-page packet for its September 10 board meeting: no Workforce Pell item requires board action, the Executive Director's report lists the "Status of the Workforce Pell Grant working group" and names Workforce Pell first among fourth-quarter priorities, and the report's policy-readiness slide states that the "working group arrived at a consensus as a Goal: first disbursement will be in August 2027" and that the "Council will need to approve policy and criteria by November Board meeting." The packet also carries the February 18, 2026 minutes, which record the board ratifying a resolution "Establishing the State Planning and Implementation Framework for the Federal Workforce Pell Grant Program" as an interim step before the final rule: the working group sets criteria, the University of Hawaii audits existing programs for initial vetting, the State Board certifies eligible programs for the Governor and the U.S. Secretary of Education, certification is ongoing with recertification every two years, and the program "would not be administered by the Workforce Development Council, but rather by the University of Hawaii," whose staff said they "do not anticipate many courses will meet the required thresholds"; the May 21 minutes add that UH Community Colleges had identified three initial programs that may qualify and that a special meeting to approve policy and criteria might be needed in late July or August, which the meetings page shows did not occur. The September 10 meeting's posted minutes confirm the item stayed informational: Executive Director Misalucha reported "progress on Workforce Pell implementation with an anticipated first disbursement in August-September 2027" alongside ETPL modernization work with UH, and the board took no Workforce Pell action, leaving the policy-and-criteria approval to the next quarterly meeting, tentatively scheduled November 12, 2026 (9:30 am to noon). Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Kansas KS |
In Progress |
Legislation Enacted |
Kansas Office of the Governor / KS Board of Regents |
May 28, 2026 |
Governor / RegentsHB 2485 enacted; the May 28 TEA meeting book reports continued progress on Workforce Pell requirements through coordinated efforts among KBOR offices and the Department of Commerce, but no rulemaking, process, or application has been published; the now-posted September 15 TEA meeting book and September 16 to 17 Regents agenda carry no Workforce Pell item (next TEA meeting October 29) |
Governor Kelly signed HB 2485, which (consolidating SB 406) replicates the federal legislation for establishing Workforce Pell eligibility requirements and directs the governor to approve short-term workforce training programs for Pell grant eligibility. At the Board of Regents' Postsecondary Technical Education Authority meeting on April 23, 2026, KBOR workforce development staff reported that Ability to Benefit and Workforce Pell initiatives "will begin soon," and the May 28, 2026 TEA meeting book reports that "continued progress is being made in advancing workforce Pell requirements through coordinated efforts among internal KBOR offices and the Department of Commerce." As of September 8 no approval process or application window has been published. The TEA met August 27, 2026 with no Workforce Pell item on its agenda and none in the August workforce development report; its FY 2027 calendar continues September 15, October 29, November 19, and December 17, with agendas posted the week before each meeting. Source, TEA meeting book Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Montana MT |
In Progress |
Board Took Up Workforce Pell Action Item (Jul 28); Outcome Unposted |
MT State Workforce Innovation Board / Dept. of Labor and Industry (with OCHE) |
Jul 28, 2026 |
SWIB / DLISWIB's July 28 quarterly-meeting agenda carried a Workforce Pell review-and-action item (approve, deny, or table); no minutes, recording, or adopted standards are posted, so whether program standards were adopted is unknown; the Executive Committee meets September 28 and the board October 26-27 |
Following its Spring Quarterly meeting (April 27-28, 2026), SWIB announced it is advancing Workforce Pell implementation under Governor Gianforte's 406 JOBS initiative, describing "preliminary development of Workforce Pell Program standards for Montana, preparing the State to certify eligible programs beginning later this year"; the revised WIOA State Plan approved at the same meeting commits to using labor market information, the statewide credential registry, and joint advising for Workforce Pell navigation. The approved mid-cycle plan document (PYs 2026-2027) embeds the Workforce Pell strategy: prioritizing Pell-eligible short-term trainings aligned to 406 JOBS sectors, with the statewide credential registry and shared labor market information for navigation. The board then took the topic up for decision: the agenda for SWIB's July 27-28, 2026 quarterly meeting in Missoula lists an 8:45 am July 28 item, "Workforce Pell, Jennifer Owen, Review and Action (Action Item: Approve/Deny/Table)," the first Workforce Pell action item on a Montana board agenda. The outcome is unposted: the July meeting page links only the agenda and the April meeting's transcripts and presentations, with no July minutes, recording, or adopted standards, so whether the board approved program standards is unknown. The Executive Committee meets September 28, 2026 and the board's next quarterly meeting is October 26-27, 2026 in Helena (no agenda posted). Plan, Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| New Hampshire NH |
In Progress |
Agency Page Published; Process In Development |
Office of Workforce Opportunity (BEA) / State Workforce Innovation Board, under the Governor per HB 1774 |
Aug 18, 2026 |
Governor Ayotte / OWO / SWIBHB 1774 signed into law; the Office of Workforce Opportunity's new Workforce Pell page says certification work is underway with programs anticipated to accept students in early 2027, and the approval-process link is marked in development; the next scheduled full SWIB meeting is October 13 |
Governor Ayotte signed HB 1774 into law in a 74-bill batch reported July 2, 2026. The law directs the governor to approve workforce training programs for federal Workforce Pell Grants. HB 1774 passed the House March 11, the Senate May 14 (amendment 2026-1728s), and was enrolled June 23; the legislature adjourned sine die June 30. No application process or agency guidance has been announced yet, but the approval process is being designed: the June 9 State Workforce Innovation Board transcript records the Office of Workforce Opportunity briefing the board, developing process options for decision-makers, and reconstituting SWIB committees, with the next full board meeting scheduled October 13, 2026; the June 9 packet also includes a 2026 High Demand Occupational List. The Office of Workforce Opportunity has since published a public Workforce Pell page (sitemap date August 18, 2026) stating that "work is underway in New Hampshire to certify programs" and that programs are anticipated "to be ready to accept students utilizing Workforce Pell grants in early 2027"; its training-provider link to the approval process, eligibility requirements, and submission instructions is marked "Link in development," and the approved-programs section is a placeholder. Source, signing coverage Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Oklahoma OK |
In Progress |
Coordination Venue Named |
Oklahoma Workforce Commission (coordination), with State Regents and Office of Workforce Development |
Dec 11, 2025 |
OWCCoordination venue named in the Workforce Transformation Plan; no approval process, application, or governor action announced |
The Oklahoma Workforce Commission's Workforce Transformation Plan (December 2025) designates its collaboration committee as "an important entry point for coordinating the implementation of new strategies such as the recently enacted Workforce Pell program," the first Workforce Pell reference located in an Oklahoma public document. No approval process, application, or governor action has followed. A July 2025 America Achieves announcement said Governor Stitt would issue a preparatory executive order, but no such order appears in the Secretary of State's register through June 2026, and Stitt's 2026 higher-ed orders do not mention Workforce Pell. The commission's September 10, 2026 monthly meeting (2:00 pm, State Capitol Room 535) now has its agenda posted (September 7): no Workforce Pell item appears; agenda items are minutes approval, introduction of a new commissioner, a data presentation, an agency report, and routine business, with the next regular meeting October 15, per the amended meeting notice (2:00 to 4:00 pm, State Capitol Room 230; an earlier posting had given October 10). Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Puerto Rico PR |
In Progress |
Executive Order Signed; Interagency Committee Created |
Interagency Workforce Pell Committee chaired by the DDEC Secretary (per OE-2026-043), with the State Workforce Development Board, attached to DDEC, as designated lead entity |
Aug 30, 2026 |
Governor's Office / DDECExecutive Order OE-2026-043 (dated August 30, 2026) sets the public policy for Workforce Pell implementation and creates an interagency committee chaired by the DDEC Secretary to evaluate programs and recommend certifications to the Governor; the written policies and procedures the order requires are not yet published and no application channel is open |
Puerto Rico's first documented implementation step is in DDEC's draft 2024-27 WIOA Unified State Plan Modification (posted for public comment April 14, 2026), whose section "Partner Engagement with Educational Institutions (Workforce Pell)" states that "the Governor's Office is facilitating a convening between DEDC and the Department of Education to capitalize on the new Workforce Pell landscape" and that "in the wake of the Governor's executive convening, the State Board will establish a rigorous certification framework to validate university and community college programs," aligned with the Reshoring Initiative (pharmaceutical, medical device, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing). The plan calls Workforce Pell "a critical pillar" of that initiative and proposes redirecting WIOA Governor's Reserve funds to wraparound services once Pell covers tuition; it publishes no framework, criteria, timeline, or application. On August 30, 2026 Governor Jenniffer González Colón signed Executive Order OE-2026-043, which establishes the public policy for implementing the Workforce Pell Grant Program and creates the Puerto Rico Interagency Workforce Pell Committee, chaired by the DDEC Secretary and composed of the Secretaries of State, Labor and Human Resources, and Education, the executive directors of PRFAA, the Department of State's Office of Registration and Licensing of Education Institutions, and the Institute of Statistics, the president of the State Workforce Development Board, the chief executive of the Board of Postsecondary Institutions, and at least two governor-designated representatives of Title IV institutions (one from higher education and one from the technical-vocational sector); Section 3 designates the State Workforce Development Board, attached to DDEC, as the lead entity coordinating implementation and providing the committee's administrative and technical support; the committee evaluates programs against employment and wage data and recommends certifications to the Governor ahead of ED review, the order requires written published policies and procedures, and it commits to an outcomes tracking system covering retention, credentialing, placement, and wages, with authority to recommend decertifying underperforming programs (announced August 31; the Department of State registry dates the order August 30). Statutorily eligible: the final rule defines "Governor" as the chief executive of a State or outlying area under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and the rule's preamble uses Puerto Rico as its example of state-specific in-demand occupations (91 FR 29254). Source, San Juan Daily Star Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Utah UT |
In Progress |
Approval Framework Adopted (R132) |
Utah Board of Higher Education (per SB 195, 2026) |
Jul 9, 2026 |
Board of Higher EdBoard Policy R132, Workforce Pell Grant Program Certification and Oversight, appears in the USHE policy library as a July 2026 addition, codifying the SB 195 Governor-to-Board delegation; no institutional application channel or program list posted |
SB 195 (Workforce Development), enacted in the 2026 General Session, authorizes the Governor to delegate Workforce Pell program approval to the Utah Board of Higher Education for USHE institutions; this is an outlier higher-ed-led model documented in New America's state implementation playbook. The board has since codified the framework: Utah State University's system policy log lists Board Policy R132, Workforce Pell Grant Program Certification & Oversight as new under the July 2026 UBHE policy updates, and ushe.edu/policies/r132 resolves into the USHE policy library. The adoption date is now pinned: the board's July 9, 2026 meeting notice on the Utah Public Notice Website lists "Attachment 3 - New Board Policy R132" under its Board Policy Updates consent item. The August 10-11 board meeting notice carries no Workforce Pell or R132 item, and no application process or program list has been published; under the SB 195 delegation the pipeline is board-internal for USHE institutions rather than an open application window. Policy log, Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Vermont VT |
In Progress |
Drafting Guidance |
VT Office of Workforce Strategy and Development / State Workforce Development Board |
Aug 24, 2026 |
OWSD / SWDBSWDB taskforce developing timeline and policy toward a small pilot in mid-2027; an interim OWSD director was appointed effective August 24 after the executive director's June retirement; the June 1 minutes had listed a September 14 full-board meeting, but none was held; the OWSD meetings page lists the next full-board meeting as October, date to be announced, and the most recent posted agenda remains June 1 |
SWDB strategic goals document filed with the legislature names Workforce Pell integration as a priority and lists implementation partners across VDOL, Agency of Education, and CCV. June 1, 2026 SWDB minutes, now posted, describe a taskforce continuing to develop timeline and policy, targeting a small pilot in mid-2027; the same minutes record that OWSD's executive director retired at the end of June, with the office transition described as delaying subcommittee work. On August 26, 2026 the Department of Labor announced Rowan Hawthorne, previously its policy and legislative affairs director, as Interim Director of OWSD effective August 24, 2026. The June 1 minutes listed the next full-board meetings as September 14 and December 14, but as of September 6 the OWSD meetings page shows the next full-board meeting as October, date to be announced, with no September meeting or agenda posted. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Virginia VA |
In Progress |
Named in Draft State Plan |
Virginia Works + Virginia Community College System (per draft plan) |
Apr 2026 |
Virginia Works / VCCSDraft WIOA Combined State Plan modification names VCCS as the Workforce Pell implementing partner; no approval process or guidance published; a password-protected Workforce Pell page is staged on the Virginia Works site (last edited September 1); the state workforce board meets September 24 and 25 |
Virginia's draft WIOA Combined State Plan modification (posted April 2026, marked draft) states that "VCCS will be instrumental in implementing Workforce Pell programs, in partnership with Virginia Works," and that the state's Workforce Data Trust credential-to-occupation mapping tools "guide training program design, including Workforce Pell implementation." This is the first Workforce Pell assignment in an official Virginia document; no approval process, guidance, or portal has been published, and neither the governor's office nor SCHEV has announced a process. As of July 24, 2026 the Virginia Works site carries a staged page at virginiaworks.gov/workforce-pell/ titled "Protected: Workforce Pell" behind a password form; its contents remain non-public as of September 6, although the site's page record shows the staged page was last edited September 1, 2026. The Virginia Board of Workforce Development meets September 24 (committees) and September 25 (full board), location to be announced, with no agenda posted. Inside Higher Ed reported July 27 that, per VCCS, only 6 of roughly 600 credit and noncredit programs met Workforce Pell's requirements, with many programs falling just under the duration floor, and that Virginia does not plan to lengthen programs to chase eligibility. Virginia's pre-existing New Economy Workforce Credential Grant (SCHEV-administered, funding VCCS FastForward, $23.75M in FY2026) remains the state's workforce-credential infrastructure. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Washington WA |
In Progress |
Board Took Up Pilot Guidance Aug 26; Outcome Unposted |
Governor's Policy office (lead), with a six-agency steering committee including the Workforce Board, SBCTC, and WSAC |
Aug 2026 |
Workforce Board / Steering CommitteeThe Workforce Board took up the draft pilot-year Workforce Pell Application Guidance as an August 26 action item (staff recommendation: vote to recommend the Cross-Agency Steering Committee's process to the governor); no minutes, news item, or page update records the outcome, and the guidance's proposed Cycle 1 portal opening in September 2026 and October deadline remain unconfirmed; no application channel is open yet |
The Workforce Board's June 26, 2026 meeting packet (posted July 2026) states that the Governor's Policy office is leading Pell for Workforce implementation, guided by a cross-agency steering committee of the Washington Student Achievement Council, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, the Department of Commerce, the Employment Security Department, and the Department of Labor & Industries; its key decision areas are eligibility definitions, employer validation, program stackability, and maintaining the eligible-program list. At that meeting the Washington Roundtable and the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO presented joint industry recommendations (a discussion item, addressed to Governor Ferguson): rely on the federal eligibility criteria rather than adding state criteria in year one, then build a structured employer and sector demand-validation system, with enabling investments in advising capacity, wraparound supports, and rural access. The Workforce Board hosts the state's public Workforce Pell page and posted an information session March 20, 2026. The August 26 board packet, posted the week of August 17, carries the draft Washington Workforce Pell Application Guidance as a 9:25 am action item: the board votes on recommending the steering committee's pilot-year process to the governor. The design uses a single state application with the Washington Student Achievement Council as the front door and four steps: a verification letter from the agency that already oversees each provider type (SBCTC for community and technical colleges, the Workforce Board and Career Bridge for private career schools and non-college apprenticeships, WSAC for four-year institutions), a WSAC portal application, Cross-Agency Steering Committee review with governor certification, then federal E-App submission. Program alignment during the pilot runs solely against an ESD-produced Workforce Pell Eligible Occupations List of 123 occupations, in-demand and paying at or above the self-sufficiency wage, with no employer letters or labor-market surveys accepted; denials carry a 30-calendar-day appeal window, and approved programs populate Career Bridge. Pilot Cycle 1 dates are proposed, to be confirmed on the WSAC page: portal opening September 2026, application deadline October 2026, steering-committee decision October 2026, with Cycle 2 proposed for January and February 2027. Remaining 2026 board meetings are August 26, October 28, and December 10. Source, board packet The Tab 3 presentation posted with the August 26 packet frames the vote as a motion to affirm the direction of the pilot application and approval process and the board's roles (verification agency for private career schools and non-college Registered Apprenticeships, steering-committee seat, Career Bridge integration, outcomes oversight), not an approval of individual programs. As of September 8 no minutes, news item, or WSAC page records the vote outcome: the board page now links the TVW recording and a revised packet dated August 26 whose only addition is the Executive Director's report (naming Workforce Pell implementation as a theme of the NGA summer Workforce Institute and an invitation for the acting director to present on Workforce Pell at WICHE), the October 28 meeting is listed with no agenda content yet, and the WSAC Workforce Pell page is not yet live; the packet's timeline (all rows marked proposed) has the Cycle 1 portal opening and provider webinar in September 2026, agency verification September to October, an October application deadline, and a second cycle in January to February 2027, with a 123-occupation ESD eligible-occupations list still shown as a placeholder in the draft. Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| West Virginia WV |
In Progress |
Legislation Enacted |
WV Workforce Development Board (under Governor) |
Apr 1, 2026 |
WV Workforce Dev BoardSB 490 enacted; agency rulemaking |
Governor Morrisey signed SB 490, codifying federal law and giving the governor (via the WV Workforce Development Board) authority to approve short-term training programs for Workforce Pell. Morrisey marked the law with a May 27, 2026 signing ceremony at New River Community and Technical College alongside companion SB 402, which creates the WV Micro-Credential Program under the Higher Education Policy Commission and directs it to develop shared training standards with the Department of Commerce, the Department of Education, the Professional Charter School Board, and CCTCE. Agency rulemaking and program approval are the next steps. The state workforce board held a brief July 14 special session described as a vote on pending action items; its agenda and minutes are unposted, so any Workforce Pell connection is unconfirmed, and the next quarterly meeting is September 16, 2026. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| North Dakota ND |
Unknown |
— |
North Dakota University System + Job Service North Dakota + Workforce Development Council |
— |
— |
No approval process, designation, or application located. The State Board of Higher Education's Academic and Student Affairs Committee took a standalone Workforce Pell item on February 17, 2026: the minutes record Deputy Commissioner Lisa Johnson giving "a brief overview of Workforce Pell grant accessibility and implementation, noting that qualifying programs are coordinated through the governor's office and may include short-term degree and non-degree offerings," the first primary-source statement that North Dakota routes approval through the governor's office. Job Service North Dakota's draft 2026-27 WIOA Unified State Plan modification (comment period February 17 to March 16, 2026) says the state "has not received full guidance on Workforce PELL yet" and is inviting the University System to comment. The state workforce board was briefed earlier: the Workforce Development Council's December 11, 2025 meeting included a standalone "Workforce Pell + Federal Update" agenda item, a National Governors Association briefing covering the required role of boards in Workforce Pell. The February 5, 2026 minutes, the only 2026 WDC meeting posted, contain no Workforce Pell item. The legislative branch has also been briefed: on March 18, 2026 Legislative Management's Budget Section Commerce and Legal Services Division received a Workforce Pell Act summary from Department of Commerce workforce staff alongside the 2025 In-Demand Jobs List (minutes); the summary describes the pre-enactment Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act (H.R. 6585), not the enacted program, so the briefing documents awareness rather than implementation. Governor Armstrong has a workforce subcabinet meeting biweekly since June 2025 but no Workforce Pell-specific designation found. The State Board's August 27 board-and-retreat agenda and the Academic and Student Affairs Committee's August 18 agenda carry no Workforce Pell item; the board next meets September 24 at Minot State (committees September 15), and the Governor's Workforce Summit is September 23 in Bismarck. Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
| Wyoming WY |
Unknown |
— |
Wyoming Community College Commission + WY Department of Workforce Services |
— |
— |
No designation, process, or list published. The only public reference is in Wyoming Community College Commission minutes: on February 12, 2026 Executive Director Laurel Ballard's federal update noted that ED "has completed negotiated rule making on student loan repayment and Workforce Pell," that "time is needed to implement the rules," and "the convening of a Governor's Office workgroup"; April 16 minutes add that agency staff are monitoring Workforce Pell and the new federal accountability metrics. The workgroup's membership, charge, and output are not published, and no Workforce Pell item appears on the Commission's June or August 2026 agendas or on the Department of Workforce Services and Workforce Development Council sites; the posted June 4 to 5 minutes mention Pell only in a federal-accountability aside, the August 21 special-meeting agenda covers funding rules and budget, the Workforce Development Council's September 2 to 3 quarterly meeting in Saratoga was announced with no Workforce Pell item, and the Commission next meets October 8 to 9 at Western Wyoming Community College (agenda forthcoming). Source Verified Sep 18, 2026 |
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