Hold your horses……There has finally been some movement on WIA reauthorization! The Senate HELP (Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) Committee recently released a draft version of the reauthorization bill. The bipartisan effort focuses on updating and improving the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) at a crucial time for America’s workforce. I commend the Senate’s effort to address the needs of our workforce especially in emerging careers in high-demand and high-growth industries. We need to be strengthening the workforce development system in order to better prepare our workers for productive careers in the knowledge-based economy.
WIA was originally passed in 1998 to unify a set of federal employment and training programs. While the creation of one-stop training centers was a giant leap forward, it is past time to look at and address inefficiencies that exist in our system today.
Some of the key components extracted from the draft by the National Skills Coalition are:
Sec. 116 Local Workforce Development Areas
-Maintains requirement for governor to designate local areas, and provides criteria for Designation
-Regional Planning and Service Delivery – Requires states to identify regions; regions may be comprised of 1 local area that is aligned with the region, or 2 or more local areas that are (collectively) aligned with the region; for regions comprised of two or more local areas, requires local boards to participate in regional planning process, and submit a single regional plan that incorporates both cooperative elements (service delivery strategies, collection and analysis of regional labor market data, coordination of services etc.) and local plans for each local area.
State Performance Accountability
Sets for each State Six Performance Accountability Measures – For adult and dislocated worker programs (Title II), adult education programs (Title III), employment services 6 under Wagner‐Peyser (Title IV), and programs under Title I of the Rehabilitation Act (Title V):
(1) Percentage of program participants employed 1st or 2nd quarter after exit;
(2) Percentage of program participants employed during two quarters after quarter
under (1);
(3) Median earnings of program participants employed during the two quarters
under (2);
(4) Percentage of program participants who obtain a recognized postsecondary
credentials or secondary diplomas (or equivalent) during program participation
or within 1 year of exit;
(5) Percentage of program participants enrolled in education or training leading to a
postsecondary credential 2 quarters after exit; and
(6) Effectiveness in serving employers.
Sets for each State Five Performance Accountability Measures for the Youth Program:
(1) Percentage of program participants enrolled in education or training, or
employment, during the 1st or 2nd quarter after exit;
(2) Percentage of program participants enrolled in education or training, or
employment, during the two quarters after quarter under (1);
(3) Median earnings of program participants who are employed during two quarters
under (2);
(4) Percentage of program participants who obtain a recognized postsecondary
credentials or secondary diplomas (or equivalent) during program participation
or within 1 year of exit; and
(5) Effectiveness in serving employers.
Indicator Relating to Credential – Program participants who obtain a secondary school diploma (or equivalent) shall be included as meeting the credential measure(s) only if they have also obtained employment or are in an education or training program leading to a recognized postsecondary credential with 1 year of exit from the program.
Indicator Relating to Service for Employers – Requires the Secretaries of Labor and
Education to develop and establish 1 or more primary indicators of performance that
reflect the effectiveness of the core programs in serving employers.
Performance is just one of the many factors that were addressed in the Reauthorization. After thorough internal review and discussions with LWIA directors across the state, we all decided that the Senate’s attempt at Reauthorization was a good one and something that we could support.
The challenge will be in the House. The Senate had scheduled the bill to be marked up this week, however, it was delayed. Personally, I believe the quicker that WIA is reauthorized the better for our system. If not, I believe we will continue to be targeted for additional funding cuts.