Study and report

(a) Study As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on best practices for assisting students participating in the Federal work-study program under part C of title IV of the Higher Education Act (42 U.S.C. 1087–51 et seq.) with— (1) connecting to off-campus employers; (2) procuring work-based learning opportunities through the program; (3) procuring employment that aligns with students’ educational goals or career goals; (4) locating employment through job location and development programs; (5) procuring employment in in-demand industry sectors or occupations (as defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102)); (6) balancing employment with academic programs to improve graduation and completion rates; and (7) with respect to students with exceptional need (as defined in section 413C(c)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070b–2(c)(2)))— (A) locating and coordinating work-study employment during qualified periods of nonenrollment; (B) increasing participation in the work-study program; and (C) limiting the need for additional employment outside the work-study program. (b) Report Not later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress, and make available to the public on the website of the Government Accountability Office, a report summarizing the findings of the study required under subsection (a).