H.R. 8102 — Workforce Investments Accountability Act

This section revises the primary indicators of performance and levels of performance for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) core programs (i.e., adult and dislocated worker programs, youth programs, adult education and literacy activities, Wagner-Peyser employment services, and vocational rehabilitation), and requires new performance report templates. (As background, WIOA performance measures assess state and local effectiveness in job placement, retention, earnings, credentials, skill gains, and employer service for individuals served by these programs.) Specifically, for adult, dislocated worker, adult education, employment services, and rehabilitation programs, it (1) replaces the percentage of participants in unsubsidized employment in the fourth quarter after program exit with the percentage in unsubsidized employment in the second quarter after exit who also remain in unsubsidized employment in the fourth quarter after exit; (2) replaces "secondary school diploma" with "regular high school diploma" in the recognized postsecondary credential indicator; (3) replaces the percentage of participants who, during a program year, are in an education or training program achieving measurable skill gains with the percentage who enter such a program and achieve measurable skill gains within 12 months after the entry quarter; and (4) replaces the indicators of effectiveness in serving employers with the percentage of training service recipients who participated in on-the-job training, employer-directed skills development, incumbent worker training, or an apprenticeship. For youth programs, it (1) replaces the percentage in education or training activities in the fourth quarter after exit with the percentage in such activities in the second quarter after exit who remain in those activities or unsubsidized employment in the fourth quarter after exit; (2) replaces "secondary school diploma" with "regular high school diploma" in the credential indicator; (3) adds the percentage of program exiters who completed a work experience prior to exit; and (4) eliminates the indicators of effectiveness in serving employers. The section further revises the process for establishing state adjusted levels of performance by requiring the Secretaries of Labor and Education to propose levels by January 15 for each of the first four program years of a state plan (previously negotiated levels identified in the plan), publish statistical models and methodologies online, and consider additional state factors (e.g., foster care status, school status, education level, highest grade completed, low-income status); states must evaluate proposals, submit counterproposals with analysis if applicable, and include all in the plan, with final agreement per existing factors. Finally, it requires the Secretaries, within 12 months of enactment, to develop or modify templates for state and local performance reports.

This section requires local areas to use not less than 50% of funds allotted under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for adult and dislocated worker employment and training activities for payment of training services provided to adults and dislocated workers. (Thus, at least half of such local WIOA funds—which support job search assistance, occupational skills training, and related services for unemployed or underemployed individuals—must fund training costs.)