1. Highlights of WIOA Reforms for Adult Education
Spring 2015 Administrators’ Meeting

2. Quick Facts
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) revised and reauthorized the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) (July 2014)
Seeks to improve coordination between primary federal programs
Created to help an individual acquire a combination of basic academic, critical thinking, digital literacy, and self-management skills

3. Core Programs
The Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth formula (Dept. of Labor—Title I)
The Adult Education and Literacy (Dept. of Ed.—Title II)
The Wagner-Peyser Act employment services program administration (Dept. of Labor--Title III)
The programs under Title I of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act administered by ED under Title IV.

4. Key Principles of WIOA
Program Alignment
Creates unified strategic planning across programs
Enhances role of State & Local WIBs in developing and implementing a Unified State Plan
Increased Accountability
Establishes common measures
Increases accountability and transparency through reporting and evaluations
Enhanced Service Delivery
Promotes engagement of employers and education alignment
Strengthens partnerships and investments in one-stop delivery system

5. AEFLA: Unified State Plan
Align content standards for adult education with state-adopted academic standards
Fund local activities using considerations for grants
Programs for corrections education
English literacy and civics education
Integrated education and training
Use funds to carry out State Leadership Activities
Assess the quality of adult education providers

6. Some of our State Partnerships
Adult Education Division (AED)
Apprenticeships
Arkansas Career Technical Institute (ACTI)
Arkansas Community College (ACC)
Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS)
Career Technical Education (CTE)
Chamber of Commerce
Dept. of Education
Dept. of Workforce Services (DWS)
Workforce Investment Boards (WIB)
AR Economic Development Commission

7. Title II-Retains AEFLA Purposes
Assist adults to become literate and obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and economic self-sufficiency
Assist adults who are parents or family members become a full partner in the education development of their children
Assist adults in completing high school

8. Expands AEFLA Purposes
Promote transitions from adult education to post secondary education and training through career pathways
Assist immigrants and English Language Learners
Improve reading, writing, math, speaking, and comprehending the English language
Acquire understanding of American government, individual freedom, and responsibility
Activities must be provided in combination with Integrated Education and Training (IET) activities

9. Key Changes for Adult Education
Strengthens alignment of adult education with postsecondary and workforce activities
Strengthens career pathways and integrated education and training
Links English Literacy/Civics with integrated education and training

10. Key Changes for Adult Education
Requires specific state leadership activities:
Alignment of services with the workforce system
Quality professional development
Technical assistance to local providers
Monitoring and evaluation of local providers
Requires that the local adult education plans be reviewed by the local workforce board to ensure alignment.

11. Key Changes for Adult Education
Supports educational and career advancements for incarcerated individuals
Encourages establishment of a high-quality local adult education delivery system
13 Considerations must be met
Activities that promote IET; coordination with education, training, employers, and social service providers to promote career pathways

12. Important Title I Definitions
Individual with Barriers to Employment
Career Pathway
One-Stop Partner
Supportive Services
Workforce Development System

13. Individual with Barrier to Employment
A member of one or more of the following populations:
Displaced homemakers
Ex-offenders
Long-term unemployed
Low income individuals
Homeless individuals, or homeless children and youth
Individuals within 2 years of exhausting lifetime eligibility under the SSA, title IV part A
Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians
Youth who are in or have aged out of foster care
Single parents (including single pregnant women)
Individuals with disabilities, including youth
English language learners, individuals with low levels of literacy, and individuals facing substantial cultural barriers
Such other groups as the Governor determines to have barriers to employment
Older individuals
Migrant and seasonal farm workers

14. Career pathway
A combination of rigorous and high quality education, training, and other services that--
Aligns with skill needs of industries in the State and regional economy
Organizes education, training, and other services to meet the particular needs of an individual to accelerate educational and career advancement
Prepares individuals to be successful in secondary or postsecondary education options, including registered apprenticeships
Enables an individual to attain a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, and at least 1 recognized post secondary credential
Includes counseling to support in achieving the individual’s education and career goals
Helps and individual enter or advance within a specific occupation or occupational cluster
Includes education offered concurrently with workforce preparation activities and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster

15. Supportive Services

16. Membership of State Boards
Reduces the size of State Workforce Development Boards
State Director of adult education and local adult director have seats on the board
Include business majority, labor organizations, an apprenticeship (new), organizations serving individuals with barriers tor employment
Includes the lead State official with the responsibility for the core programs

17. Functions of State Workforce Board
Develop and implement State Plan
Align core programs and develop and improve workforce system
Develop career pathways
Develop and implement one-stops
Identify economic development regions and local market areas
Establish state performance measures and targets to assess effectiveness of core programs

18. Functions of State Workforce Board Cont.
Develop policies to coordinate services
Align technology and data systems across one-stop partners
Technological improvements for digital literacy, accelerating learning, accessibility, and professional development

19. Ultimate Goal
Help individuals gain the education and skills they need to transition into postsecondary education/training and/or workforce.

20. Group Discussion
What opportunities exist for partnering with external stakeholders in your region in implementing the new WIOA law? Challenges?
What are the high-skill, high-wage job industries in your area that can be used to develop career pathways?
What specific resources do you need to assist students and employers?
How do you see your role in the implementation of the new law?

21. References
National Council of State Directors of Adult Education (NCSDAE)
Career Clusters

22. References
One-Stop Center Service Design Quick Start Action Planner (QSAP)
Adult Education and Family Literacy Act: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) Comment Expires: June 15, 2015
Search for Proposed Federal Regulations