Narrative: a. 2. A.

(A) Provide State policies or guidance for the statewide workforce development system and for use of State funds for WIOA activities.

MD Labor’s DWDAL has a robust policy development process and regularly issues policies for the statewide workforce development system. Policies cover a variety of topics and compliance metrics to include assessment, performance, monitoring, and discretionary grants. The Division includes a Policy Unit made up of a director and two policy analysts. The production of this unit is detailed in DWDAL’s PI 2015-01 Process for Policy Development. Input from system stakeholders and subject matter experts is collected for each issuance through a structured three-meeting process and a two-week public comment period.

State investment in workforce system activities includes but is not limited to the EARN Maryland program, a portion of SCSEP, Registered Apprenticeship (though this is not WIOA-specific), and funds for summer youth programming. In recent years the Department has issued policies relate to this programming. They are available at the link mentioned above.

The State’s WIOA Alignment Group, which is comprised of leadership representing all of the workforce system partners, meets on a monthly basis. The role of the WIOA Alignment Group is both strategic and tactical: it considers system-level opportunities for advancing the integration and cohesion of the State’s workforce system and develops system-level solutions. The WIOA Alignment Group has led the development of two key policies to promote interagency service integration. Additionally, the WIOA Alignment Group has also created a brand-new Chief Learning Officer (CLO) position to establish and build system-wide competencies through a systemic approach to professional development.

The first of the two referenced policies, Partner Access to the Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE), was issued to provide opportunities for partner agencies to access information on the MWE, MD Labor’s statewide performance and case-management data system which also offers a wide range of services to jobseekers and businesses. Extending MWE access to partners allows staff to view information on shared customers and deliver more streamlined, targeted services more quickly. The policy explains the process partner agencies must follow to gain access to the MWE system, the responsibilities of all partners in sharing MWE access, and requirements for MWE training.

The second of the two referenced policies, Performance Goals for Maryland’s Workforce System – Program Years 2018 & 2019, provides information on the primary indicators of performance for all of the partner programs. This was deemed to be an essential step in helping partner staff working in different programs understand the range of performance metrics collected across the workforce system, as a whole.

The newly-created CLO position will provide a unique opportunity for partner programs to share professional development expertise and resources that previously dwelt in silos. The CLO will work with an advisory board to establish a professional development curriculum designed to equip workforce staff across partner programs with system-level competencies. To ensure the existing trainings available through partner agencies are fully leveraged and effectively coordinated, the CLO will conduct a comprehensive professional development program inventory. The CLO will monitor the landscape of policies across partner programs and facilitate professional development and technical assistance to assist partner programs in consistently implementing programming according to State and federal rules and requirements.