Narrative: b. 4.

All Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) inquirants are asked to identify if they are on public assistance, are low-income, or are basic skills deficient. Inquirants are asked to provide documentation of earning diplomas, degrees and certificates and those without post-secondary credentials and degrees are tested for math and reading skills at intake to determine eligibility for the Adult program. Individuals that become participants in the Adult and Dislocated Worker streams have information on their income, basic skills and enrollment in other social service programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recorded and tracked in the Illinois Workforce Development System (IWDS). IWDS is a web-based client tracking and reporting system that serves as the central repository of data on all WIOA participants. Tracking of participants with these indicators is done routinely at the local and state level to ensure that priority of service requirements are met.

On October 29, 2015, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (Commerce) issued WIOA ePolicy Chapter 4.2 and other related policy letters (see Attachment Q, formerly Attachment U in the 2020 Unified State Plan, at https://www.illinoisworknet.com/WIOA/Resources/Documents/Attachment%20U%20-%20Policy%20Documents%202020.pdf) that outline Commerce’s WIOA Title IB general and funding stream eligibility and documentation requirements. Allowable supporting documentation is listed in the attachment to the policy letter and there are many items that can be used to support eligibility and identification for priority of service. We require the use of TABE and other tests to verify basic skills deficiency. Identifying public assistance registrants is supported by data from the Illinois Department of Human Services systems. Veteran status is documented using the DD214 form.

Additionally, Commerce implemented a policy establishing a Basic Skills Screening Tool for Priority of Service to help identify if an individual is basic skills deficient for the purposes of priority of service.

In Illinois, the state is aligning WIOA Title I policy with the Title II Illinois Adult Education Assessment policy when determining the basic skills levels of customers for enrollment.  The adoption of this policy increases the likelihood that customers stay engaged with the WIOA one-stop system.  Furthermore, increased collaboration among WIOA partner programs regarding assessment selection decreases the likelihood of customers having to complete multiple assessments to achieve the same purpose and ultimately creates greater efficiency in the overall workforce system.  The result is optimal performance outcomes for the entire system. This partnership will extend to ensuring seamless coordination for English Language Learners through an online learning platform.

Commerce is in the process of updating its online monitoring instrument to reflect both state policy and the WIOA Final Rule. The updated monitoring instrument will provide for a review of general eligibility as well as priority of service based on the new requirements. In addition, the state’s monitoring instrument will verify all local areas have established written policies and procedures to ensure priority for public assistance recipients, other low-income individuals, individuals who are basic skills deficient and veterans. Until updates to Commerce’s online monitoring instrument are completed, Commerce continues to use WIOA-specific participant file review worksheets to monitor eligibility for participants served in the WIOA Adult program. Commerce conducts on-site programmatic and fiscal monitoring of all local areas at least once annually.