Summary

In the first of a series of reports, GAO reviewed the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) program and provided an overview on how it is being organized and implemented at the state and local levels.

JTPA succeeded the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) and shifted major job training program responsibilities from the Department of Labor to the states and established a partnership between the private and public sectors which covers all aspects of program administration at both the state and local levels. It requires that most of the funds be spent on training instead of administration and that program performance be measured on increases in participants' employment and earnings and reductions in welfare dependency. The program also requires that states plan coordinating program activities with related state and local programs to form a comprehensive integrated service delivery system. Although most of the service delivery areas targeted the priority groups, high school dropouts and welfare recipients, some concern was expressed that the act may influence some areas to enroll persons needing limited rather than extensive training. GAO found that each state is permitted to use different methods to adjust to performance standards because socioeconomic and programmatic conditions found in each service delivery area may vary from the national average.