Narrative: b. 3.

Colorado’s current policy for training provider eligibility is up-to-date and available at WIOA-2015-06, Eligible Training Providers for WIOA Title I Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs. 

The state has not established minimum performance levels for eligibility. Per 680.450(f), “Governors may establish minimum performance standards for initial and continued eligibility” but it is not a requirement.

Colorado’s continuous improvement goals are currently focused on streamlining the application and eligibility process to bring as many eligible providers on the ETPL as possible to ensure consumer choice. Once this goal is achieved, Colorado will consider establishing minimum performance levels and other voluntary practices to evaluate providers. 

• Colorado has experienced technical delays and as a result it is still building out its ETPL system to collect Social Security Numbers and calculate the WIOA performance indicators. Brighthive, our data trust vendor, has developed a tool called "Abacus" to assist with this process. Abacus will calculate the following indicators:  
• Percent of participants employed 2Q after the program exit date 
• Percent of participants employed 4Q after the program exit date 
• Mean wage for participants 2Q after the program exit date 
• Mean wage for participants 4Q after the program exit date 
• Median wage for participants 2Q after the program exit date ▪ Median wage for participants 4Q after the program exit date 
• Count of participants earning a credential 

As of August 2020, Colorado has started to collect student Social Security Numbers and calculate the WIOA performance indicators.

- WIOA Participants: Credential Attainment = 0.44733

- Percent of participants employed 2Q after the program exit date: 44%

- Percentage of participants employed after the program exit date: 39%

- Median Earnings in the 2nd Quarter After Exit: 11502.65

- Rate Employment Q2 = 0.35484

- Rate Employment Q4 = 0.31143

The roles of the three entities involved in the determination of training provider eligibility:  

• The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment establishes the eligibility criteria and approval process, submits performance reports, and takes enforcement actions against providers that provide false information or violate the requirements of WIOA. 
• The Colorado Department of Higher Education hosts the ETPL website, reviews applications for minimum eligibility and/or performance requirements, and notifies local boards and CDLE regarding new requests for initial or subsequent eligibility once online applications are completed and reviewed. They also mark programs eligible for WIOA funding that have been approved by Local Boards and remove programs that don’t meet required criteria or performance standards. 
• Local Workforce Development Boards may identify local eligibility criteria in addition to those set by the state, plus they will review initial and subsequent applications and either approve or disapprove programs according to state and local standards. The decision of each local board determines whether a program may be utilized in its respective local area. Local boards may also request the removal of a program for cause based on local and state standards. 

Registered Apprenticeships: ll active apprenticeship programs are automatically eligible for ETPL placement.

First, there is a letter included by the USDOL Office of Apprenticeship indicating a Registered Apprenticeship program’s eligibility for the ETPL. Then a standard email goes out from CDLE indicating eligibility with the link to the ETPL website, offering to have a staff member support the program opting in over the phone. Follow-up reminder correspondence is included in sponsor emails from CDLE. Registered Apprenticeship programs that work with CDLE to develop the program also learn about the ETPL during the development process and receive a follow-up through Apprenticeship Consultants. 

Registered Apprenticeship Programs can apply through the online system, or work  1-1 with a staff member, to provide the five data elements per the TEGL. The Colorado policy states “When a registered apprenticeship program submits an online application, the state will verify the registered apprenticeship program number and the program will be automatically approved statewide.” (p. 5). In the registration for eligible training providers, providers are required to complete a field on program accessibility and select “accessible to students with disabilities”. Registered apprenticeship programs will not be subject to the same application or performance reporting requirements as other training providers because they go through a detailed application and vetting procedure to become a Registered Apprenticeship program sponsor with USDOL. Any apprenticeship program may remain on the ETPL as long as it wishes if it remains registered by the USDOL Office of Registered Apprenticeship.