The Workforce Opportunity and Innovation Act (WIOA) affords millions of adult ELLs the opportunity to improve their English and grow their skill­sets. Learn about Title II of WIOA and how it impacts adult ELLs across the United States

1. WIOA 101
David Cutler, MPA
John Segota, MPS, CAE
A Brief Overview of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act

2. WIOA 101
• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act (WIOA)
– Signed into law July 2014
– Most aspects took effect July 2015
– Final regulations released August 2016
• Successor to the Workforce Investment
Act (WIA,1998)

3. Timeline Leading to WIOA
2015 - Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (WIOA)
1998 - Successor to the Workforce
Investment Act (WIA)
1991 - National Literacy Act
1966 – Adult Education Act (in ESEA)
1965 – Economic Opportunity Act

4. The Basics
• WIOA contains five titles:
– Title I: Workforce Development Activities*
– Title ll: Adult Education & Literacy*
– Title III: Amendments to the Wagner-Peyser
Act
– Title IV: Amendments to the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973
– Title V: General Provisions
*Most relevant to TESOL

5. Title I: Workforce Development
• Administered by the Dept. of Labor
through the Employment & Training
Administration
– Section of WIOA that is responsible for
providing job training and employment
services for unemployed and underemployed
adults
– Services are open to all adults over 18

6. Title I: Workforce Development Boards
• 3,000 One-Stop centers administered
through state Workforce Development
Boards, which provide local WIOA
employment and training activities
• WDBs include the governor, business leaders,
employers, state legislators and state officials
• WDBs are responsible for submitting Unified
State Plans every 4 years

7. Title I: Performance Measures
• WIOA creates a single set of common
measures for adults across all core programs
• Emphasis of evaluation is on the
performance of the program, not the
individual adult learner

8. Title I: Workforce Development
• Authorized Funding:
– FY 2017: $902 Million
– FY 2018: $922 Million
– FY 2019: $943 Million
– FY 2020: $963 Million
• Enacted Funding:
– FY 2016: $815 Million

9. Title II: Adult Education & Literacy
• Commonly referred to as the Adult Education &
Family Literacy Act (AEFLA)
– Administered by the Dept. of Education and makes
grants to states to improve basic skills including
literacy
– Targets out of school adults who are at or below the
secondary education level or below and in need of
English language training to improve their ability to
gain employment
– Title II is silent on citizenship requirements

10. Title II: Adult Education & Literacy
Title II helps to create collaboration between the
federal and state governments to provide
educational services in four targeted areas:
– Adult literacy for low skilled adults that leads to economic
independence
– Education for parents and family members to become fully
supportive of their children’s education and development
– Education toward the acquisition of secondary school
diplomas and higher education credentials
– Educational opportunities for English language learners
aimed at improving literacy skills in English and creating an
understanding of American civics

11. Title II: Funding
• Authorized Funding:
– FY 2016: $622 Million
– FY 2016: $635 Million
– FY 2018: $649 Million
– FY 2019: $664 Million
– FY 2020: $678 Million
• Enacted Funding:
– FY 2016: $595Million

12. Title II: Funding
– 82% of Title II funding goes to award multi-year
competitive grants to eligible adult education
providers
• LEAs, faith based organizations, nonprofits, institutions of
higher education, private organizations, etc.
– Grantees must operate programs that provide direct
services in adult education and literacy
– Grantees must spend 95% of their funding on direct
services

13. AEFLA Activities Under WIOA
• Adult education
• Literacy
• Workplace adult education
and literacy
• Family Literacy
• English Language Acquisition
• Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education
• Workplace preparation activities
• Integrated Education and Training

14. English Language Acquisition
• Statue clarifies multiple components of ELA
that leads to GED and transition to
postsecondary education or employment
• This does not preclude those who wish to
improve ELA to improve education of children
– Any eligible participant can participate, regardless of whether they
are pursuing GED, postsecondary, or employment
– Those individuals do count against performance accountability
– ”That leads to" requirement applies to the program design, and not
the participants

15. “That Leads To” Qualification
• Program has implemented state adult education
content standards, and that this is reflected in
local program materials
• Offer educational and career counseling services
that assist eligible individuals to transition to
postsecondary education or employment
• Be part of a career pathway

16. Integrated English Literacy /
Civics Education
• IEL/CE program in WIOA designed to help
individuals participate in education, work
and civic opportunities
• IEL/CE activities are to include instruction in
literacy, English language acquisition and
instruction on the rights of citizenship and
civic participation

17. IEL/CE Activities
• For all levels of learners
• Must include literacy and ELA and civics
education
• May include workforce training
• States can choose between ELA or IEL/CE
services best meet the needs of learners
• Different from IEL/CE program - separate
grant/set-aside

18. IELC/CE Program
• 12% set-aside funding under Title II
• Must be combined with IET
– Department intends to be flexible
– Requirement is on the program, but not the student.
Requirements for providers
• Include instruction in literacy and ELA and civics
• Designed to prepare adult ELLs for in employment
• Integrate with local workforce training

19. Primary Performance Indicators
• Common performance measures for
– Title I Youth program*
– Title I Adult program
– Title I Dislocated Worker program
– Title II Adult Education and Family Literacy
program
– Title III Employment Service*
– Title IV Rehabilitation Services program

20. Primary Performance Indicators
1. Employment gains in second quarter after
program exit
2. Employment gains in fourth quarter after
program exit
3. Median earnings in second quarter after
program exit
4. Employer measure
5. Postsecondary credential attainment
6. Measurable skill gains

21. Measurable Skill Gains
“The percentage of program 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 measureable skill gains toward such
a credential or employment. (WIOA, Section
116(b)(2)(A)(V)).”

22. Measurable Skills Gain
• Not an exit-based measure
• Intended to capture progression
• Defined as documented progress
towards a credential or employment
– Academic
– Technical
– Occupational
– Other

23. 2017 TESOL Advocacy Summit
Registration Now Open!
www.tesol.org/advocacy

24. Discussion & Questions
Contact:
John Segota
jsegota@tesol.org
@JohnSegota
David Cutler
dcutler@tesol.org
@TESOLpolicyguy