State Indicators of Performance for Core Programs

20 C.F.R. Part ..., Subpart A
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01

20 C.F.R. § 677.155 What are the primary indicators of performance under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act?

(a) All States submitting either a Unified or Combined State Plan under §§ 676.130 and 676.143 of this chapter, must propose expected levels of performance for each of the primary indicators of performance for the adult, dislocated worker, and youth programs authorized under WIOA title I; the AEFLA program authorized under WIOA title II; the Employment Service program authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act, as amended by WIOA title III; and the VR program authorized under title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by WIOA title IV. (1) Primary indicators of performance. The six primary indicators of performance for the adult and dislocated worker programs, the AEFLA program, and the VR program are: (i) The percentage of participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program; (ii) The percentage of participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit from the program; (iii) Median earnings of participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program; (iv)(A) The percentage of those participants enrolled in an education or training program (excluding those in on-the-job training [OJT] and customized training) who attained 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. (B) A participant who has attained a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent is included in the percentage of participants who have attained a secondary school diploma or recognized equivalent only if the participant also is employed or is enrolled in an education or training program leading to a recognized postsecondary credential within 1 year after exit from the program; (v) The percentage of 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, defined as documented academic, technical, occupational, or other forms of progress, towards such a credential or employment. Depending upon the type of education or training program, documented progress is defined as one of the following: (A) Documented achievement of at least one educational functioning level of a participant who is receiving instruction below the postsecondary education level; (B) Documented attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent; (C) Secondary or postsecondary transcript or report card for a sufficient number of credit hours that shows a participant is meeting the State unit's academic standards; (D) Satisfactory or better progress report, towards established milestones, such as completion of OJT or completion of 1 year of an apprenticeship program or similar milestones, from an employer or training provider who is providing training; or (E) Successful passage of an exam that is required for a particular occupation or progress in attaining technical or occupational skills as evidenced by trade-related benchmarks such as knowledge-based exams. (vi) The percentage of participants in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program who were employed by the same employer in the second and fourth quarters after exit. For the six core programs, this indicator is a statewide indicator reported by one core program on behalf of all six core programs in the State, as described in guidance. (2) Participants. For purposes of the primary indicators of performance in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, “participant” will have the meaning given to it in § 677.150(a), except that— (i) For purposes of determining program performance levels under indicators set forth in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (iv) and (vi) of this section, a “participant” does not include a participant who received services under sec. 225 of WIOA and exits such program while still in a correctional institution as defined in sec. 225(e)(1) of WIOA; and (ii) The Secretaries of Labor and Education may, as needed and consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), make further determinations as to the participants to be included in calculating program performance levels for purposes of any of the performance indicators set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this section. (b) The primary indicators in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (iii) and (vi) of this section apply to the Employment Service program authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act, as amended by WIOA title III. (c) For the youth program authorized under WIOA title I, the primary indicators are: (1) Percentage of participants who are in education or training activities, or in unsubsidized employment, during the second quarter after exit from the program; (2) Percentage of participants in education or training activities, or in unsubsidized employment, during the fourth quarter after exit from the program; (3) Median earnings of participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program; (4) The percentage of those participants enrolled in an education or training program (excluding those in OJT and customized training) who obtained 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, except that a participant who has attained a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent is included as having attained a secondary school diploma or recognized equivalent only if the participant is also employed or is enrolled in an education or training program leading to a recognized postsecondary credential within 1 year from program exit; (5) The percentage of 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, defined as documented academic, technical, occupational or other forms of progress towards such a credential or employment. Depending upon the type of education or training program, documented progress is defined as one of the following: (i) Documented achievement of at least one educational functioning level of a participant who is receiving instruction below the postsecondary education level; (ii) Documented attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent; (iii) Secondary or postsecondary transcript or report card for a sufficient number of credit hours that shows a participant is achieving the State unit's academic standards; (iv) Satisfactory or better progress report, towards established milestones, such as completion of OJT or completion of 1 year of an apprenticeship program or similar milestones, from an employer or training provider who is providing training; or (v) Successful passage of an exam that is required for a particular occupation or progress in attaining technical or occupational skills as evidenced by trade-related benchmarks such as knowledge-based exams. (6) The percentage of participants in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program who were employed by the same employer in the second and fourth quarters after exit. For the six core programs, this indicator is a statewide indicator reported by one core program on behalf of all six core programs in the State, as described in guidance.

20 C.F.R. § 677.160 What information is required for State performance reports?

(a) The State performance report required by sec. 116(d)(2) of WIOA must be submitted annually using a template the Departments of Labor and Education will disseminate, and must provide, at a minimum, information on the actual performance levels achieved consistent with § 677.175 with respect to: (1) The total number of participants served, and the total number of participants who exited each of the core programs identified in sec. 116(b)(3)(A)(ii) of WIOA, including disaggregated counts of those who participated in and exited a core program, by: (i) Individuals with barriers to employment as defined in WIOA sec. 3(24); and (ii) Co-enrollment in any of the programs in WIOA sec. 116(b)(3)(A)(ii). (2) Information on the performance levels achieved for the primary indicators of performance for all of the core programs identified in § 677.155 including disaggregated levels for: (i) Individuals with barriers to employment as defined in WIOA sec. 3(24); (ii) Age; (iii) Sex; and (iv) Race and ethnicity. (3) The total number of participants who received career services and the total number of participants who exited from career services for the most recent program year and the 3 preceding program years, and the total number of participants who received training services and the total number of participants who exited from training services for the most recent program year and the 3 preceding program years, as applicable to the program; (4) Information on the performance levels achieved for the primary indicators of performance consistent with § 677.155 for career services and training services for the most recent program year and the 3 preceding program years, as applicable to the program; (5) The percentage of participants in a program who attained unsubsidized employment related to the training received (often referred to as training-related employment) through WIOA title I, subtitle B programs; (6) The amount of funds spent on career services and the amount of funds spent on training services for the most recent program year and the 3 preceding program years, as applicable to the program; (7) The average cost per participant for those participants who received career services and training services, respectively, during the most recent program year and the 3 preceding program years, as applicable to the program; (8) The percentage of a State's annual allotment under WIOA sec. 132(b) that the State spent on administrative costs; and (9) Information that facilitates comparisons of programs with programs in other States. (10) For WIOA title I programs, a State performance narrative, which, for States in which a local area is implementing a pay-for-performance contracting strategy, at a minimum provides: (i) A description of pay-for-performance contract strategies being used for programs; (ii) The performance of service providers entering into contracts for such strategies, measured against the levels of performance specified in the contracts for such strategies; and (iii) An evaluation of the design of the programs and performance strategies and, when available, the satisfaction of employers and participants who received services under such strategies. (b) The disaggregation of data for the State performance report must be done in compliance with WIOA sec. 116(d)(6)(C). (c) The State performance reports must include a mechanism of electronic access to the State's local area and eligible training provider (ETP) performance reports. (d) States must comply with these requirements from sec. 116 of WIOA as explained in joint guidance issued by the Departments of Labor and Education, which may include information on reportable individuals as determined by the Secretaries of Labor and Education.

20 C.F.R. § 677.165 May a State establish additional indicators of performance?

States may identify additional indicators of performance for the six core programs. If a State does so, these indicators must be included in the Unified or Combined State Plan.

20 C.F.R. § 677.170 How are State levels of performance for primary indicators established?

(a) A State must submit in the State Plan expected levels of performance on the primary indicators of performance for each core program as required by sec. 116(b)(3)(A)(iii) of WIOA as explained in joint guidance issued by the Secretaries of Labor and Education. (1) The initial State Plan submitted under WIOA must contain expected levels of performance for the first 2 years of the State Plan. (2) States must submit expected levels of performance for the third and fourth year of the State Plan before the third program year consistent with §§ 676.135 and 676.145 of this chapter. (b) States must reach agreement on levels of performance with the Secretaries of Labor and Education for each indicator for each core program. These are the negotiated levels of performance. The negotiated levels must be based on the following factors: (1) How the negotiated levels of performance compare with State levels of performance established for other States; (2) The application of an objective statistical model established by the Secretaries of Labor and Education, subject to paragraph (d) of this section; (3) How the negotiated levels promote continuous improvement in performance based on the primary indicators and ensure optimal return on investment of Federal funds; and (4) The extent to which the negotiated levels assist the State in meeting the performance goals established by the Secretaries of Labor and Education for the core programs in accordance with the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, as amended. (c) An objective statistical adjustment model will be developed and disseminated by the Secretaries of Labor and Education. The model will be based on: (1) Differences among States in actual economic conditions, including but not limited to unemployment rates and job losses or gains in particular industries; and (2) The characteristics of participants, including but not limited to: (i) Indicators of poor work history; (ii) Lack of work experience; (iii) Lack of educational or occupational skills attainment; (iv) Dislocation from high-wage and high-benefit employment; (v) Low levels of literacy; (vi) Low levels of English proficiency; (vii) Disability status; (viii) Homelessness; (ix) Ex-offender status; and (x) Welfare dependency. (d) The objective statistical adjustment model developed under paragraph (c) of this section will be: (1) Applied to the core programs' primary indicators upon availability of data which are necessary to populate the model and apply the model to the local core programs; (2) Subject to paragraph (d)(1) of this section, used before the beginning of a program year in order to reach agreement on State negotiated levels for the upcoming program year; and (3) Subject to paragraph (d)(1) of this section, used to revise negotiated levels at the end of a program year based on actual economic conditions and characteristics of participants served, consistent with sec. 116(b)(3)(A)(vii) of WIOA. (e) The negotiated levels revised at the end of the program year, based on the statistical adjustment model, are the adjusted levels of performance. (f) States must comply with these requirements from sec. 116 of WIOA as explained in joint guidance issued by the Departments of Labor and Education.

20 C.F.R. § 677.175 What responsibility do States have to use quarterly wage record information for performance accountability?

(a)(1) States must, consistent with State laws, use quarterly wage record information in measuring a State's performance on the primary indicators of performance outlined in § 677.155 and a local area's performance on the primary indicators of performance identified in § 677.205. (2) The use of social security numbers from participants and such other information as is necessary to measure the progress of those participants through quarterly wage record information is authorized. (3) To the extent that quarterly wage records are not available for a participant, States may use other information as is necessary to measure the progress of those participants through methods other than quarterly wage record information. (b) “Quarterly wage record information” means intrastate and interstate wages paid to an individual, the social security number (or numbers, if more than one) of the individual, and the name, address, State, and the Federal employer identification number of the employer paying the wages to the individual. (c) The Governor may designate a State agency (or appropriate State entity) to assist in carrying out the performance reporting requirements for WIOA core programs and ETPs. The Governor or such agency (or appropriate State entity) is responsible for: (1) Facilitating data matches; (2) Data quality reliability; and (3) Protection against disaggregation that would violate applicable privacy standards.

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