The programs authorized in Title I are evaluated by measures
established by the Act on a state and regional basis. In order for the state to
qualify for incentive funds, it must meet performance standards set for these
measures, in conjunction with successful performance by programs funded under
the Carl Perkins Act and the Workforce Investment Act Title II.
(1) Standards for measurement for each region
shall be established through negotiations between the department, the chief
elected official board and each regional workforce investment board.
(2) Performance outcome measures. The overall
mission of Iowa's workforce development center system is to increase the size
of the skilled labor force and increase earned income among Iowa citizens. Each
region's workforce development center system shall address its locally
developed priorities in conjunction with the above goals. In addition to having
the performance of the regional workforce development center system evaluated
as a whole, all Title I programs shall be evaluated based on the following
outcome measures:
a. Adult program outcome
measures.
(1) Entry into unsubsidized
employment;
(2) Retention in
unsubsidized employment for six months after entry into employment;
(3) Earnings received in unsubsidized
employment for six months after entry into employment; and
(4) Attainment of a recognized credential
related to achievement of educational skills (such as a secondary school
diploma or its recognized equivalent), or occupational skills, by participants
who enter unsubsidized employment.
b. Dislocated worker program outcome
measures.
(1) Entry into unsubsidized
employment;
(2) Retention in
unsubsidized employment for six months after entry into employment;
(3) Earnings received in unsubsidized
employment for six months after entry into employment; and
(4) Attainment of a recognized credential
related to achievement of educational skills (such as a secondary school
diploma or its recognized equivalent), or occupational skills, by participants
who enter unsubsidized employment.
c. Youth aged 19 to 21 outcome measures.
(1) Entry into unsubsidized
employment;
(2) Retention in
unsubsidized employment for six months after entry into employment;
(3) Earnings received in unsubsidized
employment for six months after entry into employment; and
(4) Attainment of a recognized credential
related to achievement of educational skills (such as a secondary school
diploma or its recognized equivalent), or occupational skills, by participants
who enter postsecondary education, advanced training, or unsubsidized
employment.
d. Youth aged
14 to18 outcome measures.
(1) Attainment of
basic skills and, as appropriate, work readiness or occupational
skills;
(2) Attainment of secondary
school diplomas or their recognized equivalents; and
(3) Placement and retention in postsecondary
education, advanced training, military service, employment, or qualified
apprenticeships.
e.
Customer satisfaction of participants.
f. Customer satisfaction of
employers.
(3) Other
measures. The following measures shall also be tracked and progress reported.
a. Entry by participants who have completed
training services into unsubsidized employment related to the training
received;
b. Wages at entry into
employment (including rate of wage replacement for groups of participants, such
as dislocated workers);
c. Cost of
workforce investment activities relative to the effect of the activities on the
performance of participants;
d.
Retention and earnings received in unsubsidized employment 12 months after
entry into the employment; and
e.
Performance of recipients of public assistance, out-of-school youth, veterans,
individuals with disabilities, displaced homemakers, and older individuals, as
required by the Department of Labor.
(4) Retention in employment measures and
wages earned measures will be calculated using data from the unemployment
insurance wage record database with the assistance of the department.
(5) Regional performance standards shall be
negotiated between the department, the regional workforce investment board and
chief elected official board. Performance standards shall be negotiated for
each region annually. The department, the regional workforce investment board
and chief elected official board shall evaluate regional performance and the
appropriateness of the negotiated standards each year. Formal negotiation shall
be conducted for two-year periods and remain consistent with years in which
needs assessment activities are conducted.
The department shall establish a minimum acceptable level of
performance for each measure, based upon levels established through negotiation
between the state and the Department of Labor and using historical data.
Negotiation will focus on the adjusted level of performance, which will serve
as the regional objective. Performance of a program within a region below the
minimum acceptable levels shall be the basis for corrective action or
sanctions. Performance above adjusted levels shall be the basis for incentive
awards. In addition, regions may negotiate maximum levels of performance (level
at which adjusted levels shall not be negotiated beyond during the first five
years).
(6) Incentive
awards. A portion of the state level funds shall be reserved from Title I
programs to provide incentive awards to regions that demonstrate superior
performance and to provide technical assistance to all regions. Incentive
awards, which are granted during a program year, shall be distributed based
upon performance from the previous program year. Actual distribution of the
funds shall occur after the end of each program year when final performance
standards are calculated. At that time, performance shall be compared against
the region's adjusted levels to determine eligibility for, and the amount of,
incentive awards.
Incentive awards shall be distributed to regional workforce
investment boards when average performance across all measures exceeds the
average adjusted levels for the percent achieved score for each measure. When
the percent achieved score is greater than 100 percent, the region qualifies
for a regional incentive award. There is no requirement for the number of
individual measures that must be exceeded, but the customer and employer
satisfaction measures must be exceeded for a region to qualify for an incentive
award.
The regional workforce investment board must utilize the
incentive funds to support Title I services, but it is possible for a region to
purchase services that do not count toward performance measurement.
The determination of actual performance achievement on the 17
performance measures and any subsequent incentive awards shall be based on data
contained in the integrated customer service (ICS) system. The initial
determination of incentive awards shall be made no later than September 1
following the end of the program year. By that time, the chair of each regional
workforce investment board shall be notified of its initial performance and
incentive award determination. The regional workforce investment board, or its
designee, shall be allowed two weeks in which to respond to these initial
determinations. The response shall be limited to the calculation of the awards.
Changes to the data shall not be permitted unless authorized by the department.
A final determination and the awarding of incentive funds shall occur no later
than October 1 following the end of the program year. The department reserves
the authority to adjust the time lines for the awarding of incentive funds if
circumstances warrant such an adjustment.
(7) If a region does not meet performance
outcome requirements, the department shall provide technical assistance to the
region to improve its performance. The following process shall be used:
a. Technical assistance shall be available to
the Title I service providers through the department's staff. In situations
where regional performance falls below the minimum acceptable level, the
department will assist the regional workforce investment board, or its
designee, with the development of a performance improvement plan.
b. If regional Title I programs do not meet
the minimum acceptable level of performance for two consecutive years, the
regional workforce investment board shall be required to develop a performance
improvement plan. Technical assistance shall also be available to the regional
workforce investment board and chief elected official board to adjust the
regional customer service plan to facilitate the success of the region's
performance improvement plan.
c.
The performance improvement plan must be reviewed and approved by the chief
elected official board prior to its submittal of the plan to the
department.
(8) If a
region falls below the minimum acceptable levels of performance agreed upon for
the region's average composite percent achieved score in any of the program
areas for two consecutive years, the governor, through the department, shall
take corrective action. The critical measures that determine possible sanctions
are:
1. Adult program measures
average;
2. Dislocated worker
program measures average;
3. Youth
program measures average; and
4.
Customer satisfaction measures average.
At a minimum, the corrective action shall include the
development of a performance improvement plan and the possibility of a
reorganization plan, under which the governor:
a. Requires the appointment and certification
of a new regional workforce investment board;
b. Prohibits the use of particular service
providers that have been identified as achieving poor levels of
performance;
c. Requires the
certification of a new coordinating service provider;
d. Requires the development of a new regional
plan; or
e. Requires other
appropriate measures designed to improve the performance of the
region.
An appeal to sanctions may be made by following the process
identified in 7.24(15). If a region is being sanctioned, it shall not qualify
for an incentive award in the Title I category.
