Rehabilitation Services Administration Information Memorandum: Developing Memoranda Of Understanding
Rehabilitation Services Administration Information
Memorandum: A Guide for Developing Memoranda Of
Understanding with Local Workforce Investment Boards as
Required by the Workforce Investment Act. This memorandum
transmits a "Memorandum of Understanding Framework Guide."
The guide is designed as a framework for negotiations in
the development of the MOU. Components were drawn from the
WIA requirements for a memorandum of understanding.
Submitted: 1999
Current Policies: Performance Accountability - Final Regulatory Process - Planning Guidance
The Department of Labor`s current thinking on key policy issues is
reflected in the following documents:
These documents are works in progress and do not reflect final
administration policy or concurrence of Federal Partners. They are
intended solely as policy guidance to inform our partners and
stakeholders about policy issues that have been identified and to engage
the system in discussions around those issues. Not all issues have been
fully resolved. Some issues have not been addressed and the policy
positions set forth in these documents are subject to revision.
Submitted: 1999
Skills for a New Century: A Blueprint for Lifelong Learning
Vice President Gore convened a group of key leaders from
business, organized labor, education, and all levels of
government after his National
Summit On 21st Century Skills. He asked this
leadership group to synthesize current thinking and
promising practices on workforce learning, and to issue
recommendations for how the sectors represented can help
Americans continuously acquire the skills they need for
the 21st century workplace. This report gives the group`s
vision, recommendations and next steps.
Submitted: 1999
ITA/Eligible Provider Demonstration Information Sessions Questions and Answers
The Department of Labor hosted two full-day informational
sessions where potential applicants for the ITA/Eligible
Provider Demonstration Project (SGA/DFA99-017) received
background on previous demonstrations on Career Management
Accounts, as well as the DOL expectations for selected
grantees. The questions and responses developed during
the sessions are provided here.
Submitted: 1999
Department of Labor issues policy on hold-harmless Oct 21 99 The Department has developed a
policy on the hold-harmless issue to address concern
expressed about the lack of a local hold-harmless
provision in the first two years a State implements WIA.
Proposed State Unified Plan Planning Guidance Now Available
The State Unified Plan Planning Guidance facilitates the
development and submission of a State Unified Plan
authorized by Title V, Section 501 of the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), which addresses two or more
of the programs or activities specified at Section
501(b)(2). Following this model application will reduce the
burden on the State and ensure that the State has
sufficiently met the information collection requirements
in lieu of completing the individual program state
planning requirements. The proposed Unified State Plan Planning Guidance was published in the Federal Register on
October 6. Comments are due within 60 days, by December 10, 1999
Submitted: 1999
New Planning Tools: Timeline for Submission of State and Local Plans and Readiness Checklist Posted 9/23/99 The timeline and checklist are guidance tools for the states to use in their individual planning processes.
TimelineChecklist
ETA Seeks Grant Applications For Regional Consortium
Programs. The Employment and Training Administration is
seeking applications for grants totaling $9 million to
support new regional consortia as part of the Workforce
Investment Act`s goal of identifying what skills employers
need. The deadline for applications is November 15, 1999.
Submitted: 1999
Department of Labor Issues Policy on Single Workforce Investment Area
This letter to the State of Colorado dated September 2, 1999,
describes the Department of Labor`s policy on the designation of States
as single workforce investment areas. Under this policy, only States
that were single service delivery areas under JTPA as of July 1, 1998,
may be designated as single workforce investment areas under WIA.
Submitting Plans for the Youth Activities Portion of WIA posted 9/10/99 Options for Submitting
Plans for the Youth Activities Portion of WIA State
Five-Year Strategic Plans and Wagner-Peyser are presented
in Field Memorandum No. 52-99. In response to questions
raised regarding the Plan requirements and procedures
States must follow to access PY 2000 youth funds before
July 1, 2000, and specifically for planning CY 2000 summer
employment opportunities, ETA has developed options for submitting State Plans for
Youth Activities which will allow States to access youth
funds early.
Submitted: 1999
Chart of State Plan Status Available Now
The approval and review status of states and areas that
have started WIA implementation has its own site now.
Previously the chart was part of the AJN weekly
implementation report.
Chart is no longer available. Links to state plans are found on the WIA State Plans page.
Submitted: 1999
The application for the ITA/Eligible Provider Demonstration Project is now available! August 25, 1999 Notification of
the availability of competitive demonstration funds
for establishing ITA/Eligible Provider systems was
published today in the Federal Register. This
demonstration will assist states and localities in
implementing some of the key reform elements of
the Workforce Investment Act, by providing
demonstration funding to develop the
infrastructure necessary to have an effective ITA
system for payment of training services, and to
develop the procedures and partnerships necessary
for the establishment of an Eligible Provider List
that will truly provide customers with informed
choice in the selection of training.
The full application with all necessary forms and
material can be downloaded from the
Employment and Training Administration (ETA) home page at www.doleta.gov, under Grant and
Contract Applications. There are also two
informational sessions being planned where
potential applicants will receive background on
previous demonstrations on Career Management
Accounts, as well as what the DOL expectations are
for selected grantees. These sessions will be
held in Dallas on September 27 and 28th, and
registration is required by September 15th.
Details on conferences and registration form.
Submitted: 1999
New Listing of State WIA Contacts
Names, addresses, phone and fax numbers and email addresses are available for the contact in each state and US territory.
Submitted: 1999
WIA Customer Satisfaction and Continuous Improvement Papers Posted 8/9/99 Federal Register Notice: Consultation Papers on Performance Accountability Under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) There are two consultation papers for dissemination to interested parties on the performance accountability system for title I of the Workforce Investment Act. The first paper provides a framework regarding the approach and processes for continuous improvement under title I of the Workforce Investment
Act of 1998. The second paper provides a framework for the approach and processes for customer satisfaction measures under title I of the Workforce Investment Act. Interested parties have 30 days to provide comments on these papers.
Closeout of State Formula Funded Activities under JTPA
TEGL 1-99 provides instructions and policy guidance
on the closeout of the formula-funded PY 1998 and 1999 JTPA programs.
All program years through 1997 will be closed
in accordance with the requirements of 20 CFR 627.485.
Submitted: 1999
AJN Weekly Reports America`s Jobs Network Implementation Weekly reports of Workforce Investment Act implementation
activities are now available on line, beginning with the
July 8th report. Included with the July 29th
report is a chart depicting the status of State Plan submissions.
Submitted: 1999
August WIA Town Hall Meetings
The Town Hall is an opportunity for the
Regional Administrator to share the latest information on the comments
received through the interim final regulations comment process and
policy issues involved, developments with respect to the performance
accountability system, and an update on the planning and plan approval
process and the development of unified plannig guidance. The Town Hall
will also provide an opportunity to gather input from the regional
stakeholders, partners, and others interested in the workforce
development system regarding the preparation of final regulations.
The public is encouraged to attend the Town Hall meeting at the
location closest to you. For more information on the agenda and
attendance, please contact the appropriate ETA Regional Office.
Submitted: 1999
Toll-Free Access To Job Training and Worker Assistance
Workers in Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin
have become the first to have access to a new tool - a toll-free telephone line that will link them to countless federal, state and local job training and dislocated worker assistance programs.
Submitted: 1999
National Workforce Development Research Symposium
On July 27, 1999, the U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training
Administration and the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at
Rutgers University will convene a National Workforce Development
Research Symposium in Washington, DC at The Capitol Hilton Hotel, 16th
and K Streets NW, (202) 393-1000 This one-day symposium will bring
together a
variety of individuals with expertise in research in employment and
training. Registration is due by July 23, 1999.
Nine Early Implementing States Begin WIA Transition on July 1, 1999 Posted 7/14/99 The Department of Labor authorized nine States to begin implementing their State Title I Workforce
Investment Act and Wagner-Peyser Act Plans on July 1, 1999. Letters containing guidance on how
States could move forward were sent to the nine States on June 30th, giving them the green light to
transition to the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), consistent with the time lines set forth in their Plan.
The nine States include: Vermont, New Jersey, Kentucky, Florida, Wisconsin, Indiana, Texas,
Louisiana and Utah.
Submitted: 1999
New Consultation Paper on WIA Performance Accountability Issues Published
A notice has been published in the FEDERAL REGISTER containing a significant consultation paper on Awarding Incentives and Issuing Sanctions under the WIA Performance Accountability System. This is the third of a series of consultation papers on establishing a viable Performance Accountability System under WIA.
The first two papers were Published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on March 24, 1999. They presented the broad framework for Core Performance and Customer Satisfaction Measures to be used in assessing the effectiveness of State Workforce Investment Services and determining eligibility for Incentive Grants and application of Sanctions as specified in Title I Section 136 of WIA.. The second presented the framework for Negotiating State Adjusted Levels of Performance for the Core and Customer Satisfaction Measures, from which a States actual achieved performance will be compared in determining eligibility for Incentive Grants and application of Sanctions as specified in Title I Section 136 of WIA.
Submitted: 1999
Latest Version of America's Job Bank (Version 4.0) Is Released
The new, improved version of America's Job Bank--Version 4.0--has just been released. Improved and enhanced features of the new version include: county search, shopping cart capability, address book and contact manager, user personal links, benefits information, express resume, open resume format, simplified job/ resume posting, employer profile/company description, enhanced search engines, new look and feel, and improved performance.
Submitted: 1999
ETA Announces Grants To Increase Effectiveness of Reemployment Services for UI Claimants April 19, 1999. ETA has announced the availability of $5.6 million for competitive grants to States. The grants are to increase the effectiveness of reemployment services for Unemployment Insurance claimants, to preview and shape future directions for reemployment services for these claimants, and to support implementation of the Workforce Investment Act. Availability of these funds and procedures for State proposals were announced in ETA Field Memorandum No. 34-99, dated April 14, 1999. Eligible applicants are State Workforce Development Agencies designated by Governors. Proposals are due in ETA Regional Offices by May 14, 1999.
For details, contact John Heinberg of ETA/UIS at jdheinberg@doleta.gov or 202-208-5915 x147.
Workforce Investment Act Satellite Broadcast Set for April 29 April 15, 1999. The National Association of Counties and the National League of Cities will produce a satellite broadcast on April 29 from 1pm to 3pm, EDT. The broadcast will highlight the responsibilities and opportunities that WIA presents for counties and cities. Invited to provide basic WIA information for elected officials, workforce board members, employers and other interested parties are key senators, DOL officials, county and city elected officials and business representatives. One-stop centers in Charleston, SC, Flint, MI and Napa Valley, CA will be featured. Questions about WIA may be faxed to panel participants during the broadcast.
Downlink site information ($100 fee per site) is available at http://www.naco.org/events/satells/work.cfm or by calling Gary Gortenburg at 202 942-4287.
Submitted: 1999
WIA Interim Final Regulations Published in the Federal Register April 15, 1999. The Interim Final Regulations for the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 were published today in the Federal Register. Publication initiates the 90 day official comment period and it is envisioned that Final Regulations will be published by the end of 1999.
Submitted: 1999
Implementation Training Materials Now Available On-line April 14, 1999. The presentations delivered at the recently completed series of Workforce Investment Act Implementation training sessions are now available electronically on http://usworkforce.org. They have been posted in various formats--PowerPoint, Corel Presentations, and HTML, as well as a text version.
Be advised that these files are both large and graphics-intensive; this means that download times may be somewhat long. Rather than view the shows on-line, you may wish to download the appropriate file(s) to your computer, i.e., save it to your hard disk, and run them locally. If you need assistance, please send an e-mail to us at wia98tf@doleta.gov.
Submitted: 1999
WIA Performance Accountability Consultation Papers Published in the Federal Register
This FEDERAL REGISTER notice contains two significant consultation papers concerning the Performance Accountability System under WIA. The first presents the broad framework for Core Performance and Customer Satisfaction Measures to be used in assessing the effectiveness of State Workforce Investment Services and determining eligibility for Incentive Grants and application of Sanctions as specified in Title I Section 136 of WIA. The second presents the framework for Negotiating State Adjusted Levels of Performance for the Core and Customer Satisfaction Measures, from which a States actual achieved performance will be compared in determining eligibility for Incentive Grants and application of Sanctions as specified in Title I Section 136 of WIA.
Submitted: 1999
Bramucci Names Lenita Jacobs-Simmons to ETA Front Office
Assistant Secretary Bramucci today announced the appointment of Lenita Jacobs-Simmons from Charleston SC as his deputy with responsibility for Regional Operations. Her major focus will be to ensure that the Regional Offices work with the State and local systems to successfully implement the reforms under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). She will also be responsible for coordinating and overseeing the performance agreements with the States under WIA.
Comments on Perkins Act and WIA Impact Invited by Education Department
The Department of Education is inviting comments to be considered
in the development of guidance and any regulations that may be
necessary, as well as the overall implementation strategy, for the Carl
D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998 (Perkins III)
and titles I and V of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 as they
pertain to Perkins III.
The Department of Education is specifically interested in
receiving comments and recommendations concerning:
1. Performance Accountability;
2. Incentive Grants under WIA Title I, WIA Title II and Perkins III;
3. Unified Plans; and
4. One-Stop Systems under WIA Title I.
Comments are due by April 5, 1999. A copy of the Notice of
Request for Public Comment was published in the Federal Register on
February 17. The web site address for the Notice is http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/1999-1/021799c.html
Submitted: 1999
Planning Guidance for Strategic Five-Year State Plan Now Finalized After OMB Approval
The final" Planning Guidance and Instructions for Submission of the Strategic Five-Year State Plan for Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Wagner-Peyser Act" is now available on this web site. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the document and States may submit plans anytime between April 1, 1999 and April 1, 2000.
Submitted: 1999
Site Index Now Available to Help Navigate This Page
We have established a new page to help WIA page users navigate the usworkforce.org site. All materials posted on the site are linked from the site index page; you can do a page search (Ctrl-F or Find) to locate the item you are looking for. As materials are added to the page, the additions will be reflected on the Site Index page.
Submitted: 1999
See the Joint Memorandum on WIA Implementation from ETA and Education Dec. 29, 1998. This memorandum from Ray Bramucci, Judith Neuman, and Patricia McNeil, issued on December 14, 1998, outlines the coordination efforts being undertaken by the two agencies to make it easier to implement WIA`s reforms at the State and local level.
Submitted: 1999
Update on Interim Final Regulations and Opportunity for Public Comment Jan. 6, 1999. Development of the interim final regulations for the Workforce Investment Act proceeds with every expectation that they will be published for public comment in February 1999. Since September we have received hundreds of comments, including comments on the preview regulations. Each comment was carefully considered in the drafting of the interim final regulations.
The public comment period on the interim final regulations will commence upon their publication in the Federal Register; any comments received now will be considered in the drafting of the final regulations. Comments may be sent to the Implementation Task Force e-mail address: wia98tf@doleta.gov
Just as with the preview regulations, there will be opportunity for public comment on the interim final regulations. Check this website periodically for further information.