New Options and
Opportunities Under the
Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act
Workforce Investment Act
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Signed into law in 1998
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Five Titles
 Title I. Workforce Investment Systems
 Title II. Adult Education and Literacy
 Title III. Workforce Investment-Related Activities and Wagner-Peyser Act
 Title IV. Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998
 Title V. General Provisions
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$3 billion program
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Main Formula Programs
 Adults – individuals over the age of 18 with barriers to employment
 Dislocated Workers – individuals who have been laid off or received notice of termination of employment, are
eligible for or have exhausted unemployment compensation, are self-employed but unemployed because of
general economic conditions, or are displaced homemakers
 Youth – low-income individuals between 14-21 years of age7 who meet at least one of several conditions
Path Towards Reauthorization
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– House passed SKILLS Act in April 2013
– Senate HELP Committee passed the Workforce Investment Act of 2013
– Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
• U.S. House of Representatives passed on July 9, 2014 with a 415-6 vote
• U.S. Senate passed on June 25, 2014 with a 95-3 vote
• President Obama signed on July 22, 2014
Key Provisions of WIOA
Increases the focus
on serving the most
vulnerable
workers—lowincome adults and
youth
Expands education
and training options
to help participants
access good jobs
and advance in
their careers
Helps
disadvantaged and
unemployed adults
and youth earn
while they learn
Aligns planning and
accountability
policies across core
programs to
support more
unified approaches
Brief WIOA Overview
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For more details see CLASP Summary: New Opportunities to Improve Economic and Career Success for Low-Income Youth and Adults:
Key Provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) - http://www.clasp.org/resources-and-publications/publication1/KeyProvisionsofWIOA-Final.pdf
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Prioritize Services to Out-of-school Youth &
Vulnerable Low-income Adults
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Prioritize Services to Out-of-school Youth &
Vulnerable Low-income Adults
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New and Expanded Definitions
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Basic Skills Deficient
WIA
WIOA
BASIC SKILLS DEFICIENT.—The term ‘‘basic skills
deficient’’
means, with respect to an individual, that the individual
has English reading, writing, or computing skills at or below
the 8th grade level on a generally accepted standardized
test
or a comparable score on a criterion-referenced test.
The term ‘‘basic skills deficient’’ means, with respect to an
individual—
(A) who is a youth, that the individual has English reading,
writing, or computing skills at or below the 8th grade level on
a generally accepted standardized test; or
(B) who is a youth or adult, that the individual is unable to
compute or solve problems, or read, write, or speak English,
at a level necessary to function on the
job, in the individual’s family, or in society.
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Low-Income Individual
WIA
WIOA
LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘‘low-income
individual’’ means an individual who—
(A) receives, or is a member of a family that receives,
cash payments under a Federal, State, or local income based public assistance
program;
(B) received an income, or is a member of a family
that received a total family income, for the 6-month period prior to application for the
program involved (exclusive of unemployment compensation, child support
payments, payments described in subparagraph (A), and old-age and survivors
insurance benefits received under section 202
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402)) that, in relation to family size, does not
exceed the higher of—
(i) the poverty line, for an equivalent period; or
(ii) 70 percent of the lower living standard income
level, for an equivalent period;
The term ‘‘low-income individual’’ means an individual who— (i) receives, or
in the past 6 months has received, or is a member of a family that is receiving
or in the past 6 months has received, assistance through the supplemental
nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of
2008 (7U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the program of block grants to States for
temporary assistance for needy families program under part A of title IV of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), or the supplemental security
income program established under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), or State or local income-based public assistance; (ii) is
in a family with total family income that does not exceed the higher of—
(I) the poverty line; or (II) 70 percent of the lower living standard
income level;
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Low-Income Individual
WIA
WIOA
(C) is a member of a household that receives (or has
been determined within the 6-month period prior to application for the program involved to be
eligible to receive) food stamps pursuant to the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
(D) qualifies as a homeless individual, as defined in
subsections (a) and (c) of section 103 of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 11302);
(E) is a foster child on behalf of whom State or local
government payments are made; or
(F) in cases permitted by regulations promulgated by
the Secretary of Labor, is an individual with a disability whose own income meets the
requirements of a program described in subparagraph (A) or of subparagraph (B), but who is a
member of a family whose income does not meet such requirements.
(iii) is a homeless individual (as defined in section 41403(6) of the Violence Against
Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14043e–2(6))), or a homeless child or youth (as defined
under section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
11434a(2)));
(iv) Receives or is eligible to receive a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.);
(v) is a foster child on behalf of whom State or local government payments are made;
or
(vi) is an individual with a disability whose own income meets the income requirement
of clause (ii), but who is a member of a family whose income does not meet this
requirement.
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Expands and Improves
Eligibility for Youth Services
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Out-of-School Youth Definition
WIA
WIOA
OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH.—The term ‘‘out-of-school
youth’’ means—
(A) an eligible youth who is a school dropout; or
(B) an eligible youth who has received a secondary
school diploma or its equivalent but is basic skills deficient,
unemployed, or underemployed.
The term‘ ‘out-of-school youth’’ means an individual who is—
(i) not attending any school (as defined under State law);
(ii) not younger than age 16 or older than age 24; and
(iii) one or more of the following:
(I) A school dropout.
(II) A youth who is within the age of compulsory school attendance, but has
not attended school for at least the most recent complete school year
calendar quarter.
(III) A recipient of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent
who is a low-income individual and is— (aa) basic skills deficient; or (bb) an
English language learner.
(IV) An individual who is subject to the juvenile or adult justice system.
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Out-of-School Youth Definition
WIA
WIOA
OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH.—The term ‘‘out-of-school
youth’’ means—
(A) an eligible youth who is a school dropout; or
(B) an eligible youth who has received a secondary
school diploma or its equivalent but is basic skills deficient,
unemployed, or underemployed.
(V) A homeless individual (as defined in section 41403(6) of the Violence
Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14043e–2(6))), a homeless child or
youth (as defined in section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2))), a runaway, in foster care or has aged
out of the foster care system, a child eligible for assistance under section 477
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677), or in an out-of-home placement.
(VI) An individual who is pregnant or parenting.
(VII) A youth who is an individual with a disability.
(VIII) A low-income individual who requires additional assistance to enter or
complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment.
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In-School Youth Definition
WIA
WIOA
ELIGIBLE YOUTH.—Except as provided in subtitles C and D, the term ‘‘eligible youth’’ means an
individual who—
IN-SCHOOL YOUTH.—In this section, the term ‘‘in school youth’’ means an individual who is—
(i) attending school (as defined by State law);
(A) is not less than age 14 and not more than age 21;
(B) is a low-income individual; and
(ii) not younger than age 14 or (unless an individual with a disability who is attending school under State
law) older than age 21;
(C) is an individual who is one or more of the following:
(iii) a low-income individual; and
(i) Deficient in basic literacy skills.
(iv) one or more of the following:
(ii) A school dropout.
(I) Basic skills deficient.
(iii) Homeless, a runaway, or a foster child.
(II) An English language learner.
(iv) Pregnant or a parent.
(III) An offender.
(v) An offender.
(IV) A homeless individual (as defined in section 41403(6) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994
(42 U.S.C. 14043e–2(6))), a homeless child or youth (as defined in section 725(2) of the Homeless
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2))),
(vi) An individual who requires additional assistance to complete an educational program, or to secure
and hold employment.
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In-School Youth Definition
WIA
WIOA
ELIGIBLE YOUTH.—Except as provided in subtitles C and D, the term ‘‘eligible youth’’ means an
individual who—
- a runaway, in foster care or has aged out of the foster care system, a child eligible for
assistance under section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677), or in an out of-home
placement.
(A) is not less than age 14 and not more than age 21;
(B) is a low-income individual; and
(V) Pregnant or parenting.
(C) is an individual who is one or more of the following:
(VI) A youth who is an individual with a disability.
(i) Deficient in basic literacy skills.
(VII) An individual who requires additional assistance to complete an educational program or
to secure or hold employment.
(ii) A school dropout.
(iii) Homeless, a runaway, or a foster child.
(iv) Pregnant or a parent.
(v) An offender.
(vi) An individual who requires additional assistance to complete an educational program, or to secure
and hold employment.
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Expands Education
and Training Options
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Expands Education
and Training Options
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Expands Education
and Training Options
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Governance and Planning
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Governance and Planning
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Pay-For-Performance WIOA
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Authorizes Local Workforce Development Boards to use up to 10% of their funds for pay-forperformance contract strategies.
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Authorizes Governors to establish incentives (using non-Federal funds) for Local Workforce
Development Boards to implement pay-for-performance contract strategies for the delivery of
training services.
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Creates a new definition of “Pay-for-Performance Contract Strategy” that means a procurement
strategy that uses pay-for-performance contracts for training services and includes:
 Contracts (each with a specific amount) that will be paid to an eligible service provider based
on the primary indicators of performance for the target populations identified by the Local
Workforce Development Board (including individuals with barriers to employment), within a
defined timetable, and which may provide for bonus payments to such service provider to
expand capacity to provide effective training;
 A strategy for independently validating the achievement of the performance under the program;
and
 A description of how the State or local area will reallocate funds not paid to a provider because
of poor performance.
Career Pathways and WIOA
 Adds a new definition of career pathway to WIA that means a combination of
rigorous and high-quality education, training, and other services.
 Requires the State Workforce Development Board to develop strategies to support
the use of career pathways for the purpose of providing individuals, including lowskilled adults, youth, and individuals with barriers to employment (including
individuals with disabilities), with workforce investment activities, education, and
supportive services to enter or retain employment.
 Requires the Local Workforce Development Board to develop and implement career
pathways within the local area by aligning the employment, training. education, and
supportive services that are needed by adults and youth, particularly individuals with
barriers to employment.
Increased Alignment
 WIOA requires a single, unified, four‐year State plan
covering all core programs authorized under the bill. The
plan must describe the State’s overall strategy for workforce
development and how the strategy will meet the needs of job
seekers and employers.
 Local plans must be aligned to the strategy described in the
State plan and must describe how services provided at the
local level will be aligned to regional labor market needs.
Statewide Youth Activities
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Local Elements and Requirements
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– activities leading to the attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, or a
recognized postsecondary credential;
– preparation for postsecondary educational and training opportunities;
– strong linkages between academic instruction and occupational education that lead to the attainment
of recognized postsecondary credentials;
– preparation for unsubsidized employment opportunities, in appropriate cases; and
– effective connections to employers, including small employers, in in-demand industry sectors and
occupations of the local and regional labor markets.
Program Elements
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 summer employment opportunities and other employment opportunities available throughout the school
year;
 pre-apprenticeship programs;
 internships and job shadowing; and
 on-the-job training opportunities;
Program Elements
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Program Metrics
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Median earnings of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit
from the program;
percentage of program participants who obtain a recognized postsecondary credential, or a secondary school
diploma or its recognized equivalent, during participation in or within 1 year after exit from the program;
the percentage of program participants who, during a program year, are in an education or training program that
leads to a recognized postsecondary credential or employment and who are achieving measurable skill gains toward
such a credential or employment.
Opportunities to Influence
State and Local Planning
Opportunities and Challenges
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– Implications for foster youth and court-involved youth who are in-school; dropout
recovery for out of school youth
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– Ensuring the system through implementation doesn’t “cream”
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– Ensuring strategic vision and innovation for disconnected youth populations and
encouraging a youth council or committee
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– Encouraging co-enrollment
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Small Group Discussion
 How has your work been connected to WIA? Or the
workforce system in your community?
 Do you have partnerships with your local workforce board?
Youth council?
 What are some opportunities within WIOA for your work?
 What are some potential challenges?
manderson@opportunitynation.org
kbird@clasp.org
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jcardichon@all4ed.org