Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act

This bill, titled the "Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act," amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to establish a new competitive grant program called the Workforce Development Innovation Fund . This fund authorizes the Secretary of Labor to award grants to eligible entities for establishing, implementing, replicating, or scaling evidence-based, field-initiated innovation programs or services. The primary goal is to improve the design and delivery of employment and training services that generate demonstrated sustained improvements in earnings and employment outcomes for participants, particularly those with barriers to employment. The grants are structured into three types: early-phase grants for developing and evaluating new programs, mid-phase grants for operating and refining programs with moderate or high evidence, and expansion grants for scaling programs with a high level of evidence. A significant component of the program is the requirement for rigorous impact evaluations, often in partnership with third-party research organizations, to assess effectiveness and support future scale-up. The bill defines specific standards for low, moderate, and high levels of evidence to guide grant awards and program development. Funding allocation prioritizes expansion grants, requiring not less than 50 percent of funds to be used for them, while limiting early-phase grants to not more than 25 percent. Eligible entities include state and local workforce development boards, institutions of higher education, and community-based organizations serving underserved populations. The Secretary may reserve up to 10 percent of funds for technical assistance, dissemination of best practices, and further evaluation research. Appropriations are authorized for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out this subsection.