Policy Update
Job Corps Policy Eases Enrollment for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
What’s new: The Department of Labor has updated Job Corps policy, making it easier for unaccompanied homeless youth to enroll without parental consent—the result of many years of advocacy by SchoolHouse Connection and our partners at the National Network for Youth.
Why it matters:
- Job Corps, the nation’s largest free career training and education program with over 120 campuses nationwide, provides housing, healthcare, food, childcare, and more for low-income young adults (16–24).
- Previously, parental signature and consent requirements created enrollment barriers for unaccompanied homeless youth.
The details:
- Unaccompanied homeless youth (under the McKinney-Vento Act education definition) can enroll in Job Corps without parental consent if they have documentation from school district homeless liaisons or other youth services personnel.
- Youth must be U.S. citizens, legal U.S. residents or residents of a U.S. territory, and/or individuals who are authorized to work in the United States.
- A new online portal simplifies the application process.