Located in:
- III. Operational Planning ElementsThe Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that support the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II.(c) above. Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. This section must include—
- a. State Strategy ImplementationThe Unified or Combined State Plan must include—
- 2. Implementation of State StrategyDescribe how the lead State agency with responsibility for the administration of each core program or a Combined Plan partner program included in this plan will implement the State’s Strategies identified in Section II(c). above. This must include a description of—
- 2. Implementation of State Strategy
- a. State Strategy Implementation
III. a. 2. F. Partner Engagement with Other Education and Training Providers.
Current Narrative:
As mentioned in the Strategic section of the plan:
Goal 1.6: The commonwealth will promote and support the creation of pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs, particularly in non-traditional occupations and for non-traditional populations, as part of relevant career pathway models. The commonwealth will add apprenticeship opportunities to JobGateway® and Commonwealth Workforce Development System (CWDS) and will promote them as career options to job seekers.
Goal 1.8: The commonwealth will maintain a robust Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) to include performance data for all students receiving training in all programs, regardless of the funding source for those students’ training. This will allow for informed customer choice in selecting training programs and training providers. The commonwealth will ensure that there are a sufficient number of training providers serving individuals with barriers to employment on the ETPL.
The commonwealth issued Workforce System Policy No. 04-2015 detailing initial implementation of eligible training provider provisions of WIOA. The policy outlines the requirements for becoming and remaining an eligible training provider in accordance with federal law and regulations. Guidelines may be revised at a later time to ensure that eligible training providers and programs are aligned with career pathways once they are established.
New providers and programs seeking initial eligibility must, in general: have been in operation at least 12 months; provide program information; assure compliance with nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, and ADA; demonstrate effectiveness; and agree to collect and provide performance data. In order to maintain eligibility a provider or program must meet the minimum established performance criteria. Full details regarding initial and continued eligibility requirements can be found in the policy.
Procedures for applying for initial eligibility are as follows:
- Local workforce development boards solicit training providers in their local area to become an eligible training provider; training providers may independently apply to be an eligible training provider of WIOA Title I-B services.
- Providers seeking eligibility must complete an online application in CWDS.
- Upon receipt of completed application and required information, the appropriate local workforce development board will review the application and each proposed program.
- The local workforce development board will make a recommendation for approval or denial to the Department through CWDS; the Department will make the final eligibility determination and add the program(s) to the ETPL if the determination is favorable.
- Once the Department has approved eligibility, the local board must ensure the provider completes a Memorandum of Understanding covering use of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in student data, PA wage records, PA employment records, WRIS2, and FEDES, as applicable.
- New providers will be added to the eligible training provider list as they become eligible. Initial eligibility remains in effect at least one (1) year.
The renewal process for continued eligibility generally follows steps 2 through 6 of the initial eligibility process described above. Training providers seeking to remain on the statewide ETPL must meet at least seven of the ten minimum performance criteria established by the PA Department of Labor & Industry (L&I).
Registered Apprenticeship programs will also be part of the ETPL. Although Registered Apprenticeship programs are not subject to the same review procedures as other providers, the commonwealth must verify the status of programs to ensure they remain registered and in good standing. Initially, all Registered Apprenticeship programs in the commonwealth will receive a letter with instructions on how to opt-in to the ETPL.
All registered apprenticeship programs are required to provide the following information to L&I as part of their procedures for inclusion on the statewide ETPL:
- Occupations included within the registered apprenticeship program;
- The name and address of the registered apprenticeship program sponsor;
- The name and address of the related technical instruction provider, and the location of instruction if different from the program sponsor’s address;
- The method and length of instruction; and
- The number of active apprentices.
Registered Apprenticeship programs are not subject to the same information reporting requirements as other training programs. However, if Registered Apprenticeship programs volunteer to report performance information, L&I will accommodate such submissions.
L&I will verify the registration status of Registered Apprenticeship programs. Once the registration status has been confirmed, the entity will be added to the ETPL and L&I will notify the appropriate LWDB(s). Programs will remain on the list so long as the entity’s registration status remains valid or until a program sponsor requests to have a program removed.