The U.S. Departments of Labor and Education have collectively issued five rules to implement the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Pub. L. 113-128). WIOA is landmark legislation that is designed to strengthen and improve our nation’s public workforce system and help get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers.

On August 19, 2016, the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education announced the publication of the final rules in the Federal Register:

• WIOA: Joint Rule for Unified and Combined State Plans, Performance Accountability, and the One-Stop System Joint Provisions — Final Rule
  (Effective Date: October 18, 2016)
• State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program; State Supported Employment Services Program; Limitations on Use of Subminimum Wage — Final Rule
  (Effective Date: September 19, 2016, with the exception of 34 CFR 361.10; 34 CFR 361.23; 34 CFR 361.40; and subparts D, E, and F of part 361, which become effective October 18, 2016)
• WIOA: Miscellaneous Program Changes — Final Rule
  (Effective Date: September 19, 2016, with the exception that the removal of part 388 becomes effective October 1, 2016)
• Programs and Activities Authorized by the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (Title II of the WIOA) — Final Rule
  (Effective Date: September 19, 2016, with the exception of subparts H, I, and J of part 463, which become effective October 18, 2016)
• WIOA: Department of Labor-Only — Final Rule
  (Effective Date: October 18, 2016)

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) amends the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 by requiring vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies to collect and report additional data describing the individuals served and the services provided through the VR and Supported Employment programs. In addition, the Rehabilitation Act, as amended by WIOA, requires that the standards and indicators for the VR program be consistent with the performance accountability measures for the core programs of the workforce development system. Consequently, RSA has revised the Case Service Report (RSA-911) approved under OMB control number 1820-0508.

The U.S. Departments of Labor and Education have collaboratively issued Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act provisions related to performance accountability. The associated documents encompassed in this release include: a Participant Individual Record Layout, reporting calculation specifications, and quarterly and annual report templates. All of these documents have been approved by the Office and Management and Budget for collection through June 30, 2019. You may access the documents at https://doleta.gov/performance/pro.cfm.

The following additional material is also available.

• WIOA Works for America
• WIOA Final Rules: An Overview
• WIOA Final Rules: A Detailed Look
• WIOA Final Rules: Previously Released Versions
• Frequently Asked Questions about WIOA
• Press release: Obama Administration Announces New Regulations to Strengthen Employment and Training Opportunities for Millions of American
• Quick reference guide on joint rule
• VIDEO: Learn what WIOA means for you and how to access all of the available services

For more information and the most recent updates, please visit the Department of Labor’s WIOA landing page at www.doleta.gov/WIOA and the Innovation and Opportunity Network on WorkforceGPS (ION), which features technical assistance on strategies fundamental to WIOA implementation such as customer-centered design, strategic boards, career pathways and sector strategies; it will also host technical assistance specific to the regulations as it is available. Use ION to find peer learning groups and calls, fact sheets, and details on training events; visit the ION Community of Practice at: https://ion.workforcegps.org/.