- WIOA Policy

Participant

A reportable individual who has received staff-assisted services after satisfying all applicable programmatic requirements for the provision of services, such as eligibility determination. The following individuals are not participants: (i) Individuals who have not completed at least 12 contact hours in the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) program; (ii) Individuals who only use the self-service system; and (iii) Individuals who only receive information services or activities.

Participating Employer

The primary customer(s) for incumbent worker training services. This may be a single employer or group of employers and may be locally defined. Such employers must be actively participating in a WIOA funded incumbent worker training program. And, such employers must be industry focused. For example, a group of employers may be associated due to supply relationships, such as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and the firms in the OEM’s supply chain. Or, a group of employers may be associated through an industry-related organization.

Pay-For-Performance Contract Strategy

The term ‘‘pay-for-performance contract strategy’’ means a procurement strategy that uses pay-for-performance contracts in the provision of training services described in section 134(c)(3) or activities described in section 129(c)(2), and includes—(A) contracts, each of which shall specify a fixed amount that will be paid to an eligible service provider (which may include a local or national community-based organization or intermediary, community college, or other training provider, that is eligible under section 122 or 123, as appropriate) based on the achievement of specified levels of performance on the primary indicators of performance described in section 116(b)(2)(A) for target populations as identified by the local 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; (B) a strategy for independently validating the achievement of the performance described in subparagraph (A); and (C) a description of how the State or local area will reallocate funds not paid to a provider because the achievement of the performance described in subparagraph (A) did not occur, for further activities related to such a procurement strategy, subject to section 189(g)(4).

Performance Measure

Performance measures are the set of accountability measures that apply across the core programs to assess the effectiveness of States and local areas (for core programs described in subtitle B) in achieving positive outcomes for individuals served by those programs.

Performed Successfully

Means-(a) For the purpose of initial designation, that the local area met or exceeded all performance levels the Governor negotiated with Local Board and CEO under WIA sec. 136(c) for the last 2 full Program Years (PY) before the enactment of WIOA. It also requires that the local area not fail any individual measure for the last 2 consecutive PYs before the enactment of WIOA. (b) For the purpose of subsequent designation, that the local area met or exceeded the levels of performance the Governor negotiated with Local Board and CEO for core indicators of performance described at WIOA sec. 116(b)(2)(A).

Personal Identifiable Information

Personal Identifiable Information means--

Any representation of information that permits the identity of an individual to whom the information applies to be reasonably inferred by either direct or indirect means. Further, PII is defined as information: (i) that directly identifies an individual (e.g., name, address, social security number or other identifying number or code, telephone number, email address, etc.) or (ii) by which an agency intends to identify specific individuals in conjunction with other data elements, i.e., indirect identification. (These data elements may include a combination of gender, race, birth date, geographic indicator, and other descriptors). Additionally, information permitting the physical or online contacting of a specific individual is the same as personally identifiable information. This information can be maintained in either paper, electronic or other media.

Placement

The act of obtaining unsubsidized employment for or by a participant.

Placement in Employment or Education

Placement in Employment or Education (for Youth)

Planning Region

The term ‘‘planning region’’ means a region described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 106(a)(2), subject to section 107(c)(4)(B)(i).

Population(s) with Multiple Barriers to Employment

The WIOA defines this participant population as individuals with more than one barrier to employment.

Possess One or More Disabilities, Including Learning Disabilities

(See individual with a disability)

Postsecondary Education

The provision of a formal instructional program whose curriculum is designed primarily for students who have completed high school or a GED. This includes programs whose purpose is academic, vocational, continuing professional education, and excludes vocational and adult basic education programs.

Postsecondary Educational Institution

An institution of higher education that provides not less than a 2-year program of instruction that is acceptable for credit toward a bachelor’s degree; (B) a tribally controlled college or university; or (C) a nonprofit educational institution offering certificate or apprenticeship programs at the postsecondary level.

Pre-Apprenticeship

A program that has a documented partnership with an employer and is designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in an apprenticeship program, which includes all of the following:

Training and curriculum that aligns with the skill needs of employers in the economy of the State or region and that have been designed to prepare participants to meet the minimum entry-level requirements of the apprenticeship program.
Access to educational and career counseling and other supportive services as needed by participants.
Hands-on meaningful learning activities that are connected to education and training activities, such as Career Exploration and Career Development Experiences, and that reinforce foundational professional skills, including, at a minimum, those outlined in the Essential Employability Skills framework.
Upon successful completion of the program, participants are supported to apply for an apprenticeship program and may receive preference for enrollment.
Inclusive recruitment of underrepresented individuals.
Strive for credential acquisition.

Pre-Enrollment Assessment

A process to determine the employability and training needs of participants before enrolling them into the program. Individual factors considered during pre-enrollment assessment include: a judgment of vocational interests, abilities, previous education and work experience, income requirements, and personal circumstances.

Pre-Vocational Services

All payments made to a training institution or training provider for classroom instruction in academic remediation or short-term pre-vocational services which would normally be classified as an intensive service.

Prior Learning Credit

The evaluation and assessment of a student’s life learning through employment, training, and experiences outside an academic environment from which skills that comprise terminal objectives are mastered to an acceptable degree of proficiency for college credit, certification, or advanced standing toward further education or training.

Priority Career Pathway Course

A career-focused course that has been identified by the school district, after consultation with the community college, in its submission to the Illinois State Board of Education as an early college credit course within a career-focused instructional sequence as part of the College and Career Pathway Endorsement in accordance with the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act.

Professional Skills Assessment

A tool-based observational assessment of a participant’s performance in a career development experience given by an adult supervisor and shared with the participant that addresses foundational professional skills, including, at a minimum, those outlined in the Recommended Technical and Essential Employability Competencies framework. The professional skills assessment tool is to be used primarily as a feedback tool and development strategy and not as the sole basis for a grade or credit determination.

RESOURCES

Illinois workNet’s Observational Assessment and Worksite Evaluation tools may be used as a professional skills assessment.

Program Completion

For vocational programs that award formal credentials: Individuals who earn the credential (either a basic or advanced certificate or degree). For vocational programs that do not award formal credentials: Criteria for program completion for programs that do not award formal credentials must be approved by the Local Workforce Innovation Board certifying the program. Completers are individuals satisfying these criteria.

Program of Study

Training services consisting of one or more courses or classes, that, upon successful completion, lead to a certificate, an associate degree, or a baccalaureate degree; a competency or skill recognized by employers; or a set of skills or competencies generally required for a job or a set of jobs.

Additionally, a program of study is a coordinated, nonduplicative sequence of academic and technical content at the secondary and post-secondary level that—

incorporates challenging State academic standards;
addresses both academic and technical knowledge and skills, including employability skills;
is aligned with the needs of industries in the economy of the State, region, or local area;
progresses in specificity;
has multiple entry and exit points that incorporate credentialing; and
culminates in the attainment of a recognized postsecondary credential.

Program of Training Services

Means one or more courses or classes, or a structured regimen that leads to: (a) A recognized postsecondary credential, secondary school diploma or its equivalent, (b) Employment, or (c) Measurable skill gains toward such a credential or employment.

Program Operator

A recipient or a subrecipient of DOL funds for a qualified job training program.

Proposals

A procurement method in which either a fixed price or cost reimbursement type of contract is awarded. Proposals are generally used when conditions are not appropriate for the use of sealed bids.

Public Assistance

Means Federal, State, or local government cash payments for which eligibility is determined by a needs or income test.

PY

Program Year

Glossary

RESOURCES