Narrative: III. a. 2. F.

Maryland has established a strong record of implementing best practices related to improving access to education and industry-recognized credentials. The State continues to actively invest in a variety of initiatives that will drive the excellence of Maryland’s workforce today and well into the future. Going forward, Maryland’s workforce system partners continually work together to achieve the goal of increasing earning capacity of Maryland’s workforce system customers by maximizing access to and use of skills and credentialing.

IELCE and IET

Adult Education grantees of WIOA Title II funds in Maryland are encouraged to design and deliver Integrated Education and Training programming that meets the needs of the local workforce area as well as the career goals of adult learners in their jurisdiction.  These providers are strongly encouraged to plan these activities with the participation of other core program partners, certified training providers, and businesses to develop programs that will meet the needs of a high-demand industry. IET programs should be a component in a comprehensive Career Pathway program.  The three IET components of Adult education and literacy activities, Workforce preparation activities, and Workforce training must be provided contextually and concurrently for a specific occupation or occupation cluster for the purpose of educational and career advancement. The instruction must be aligned with the CCR standards and integrate workforce preparation activities.

Adult Education providers are required to complete an IET Planning Tool for each cohort to ensure there has been proper planning and considerations made on the best way to deliver this instruction concurrently and contextually.  In addition, the provider must identify all planned completions of MSG Type IV (Progress Towards Milestones) and MSH Type V (Industry Recognized Certifications) that will be accomplished during the cohort.

WIOA Section 243 funding authorizes Integrated English Literacy and Civics Integration funding for successful applicants.  The three required components of IELCE courseworks are: 

1. English Language Acquisition (speaking and comprehension);
2. Literacy (reading and writing); and
3. Civics education (the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and civic participation).

In addition to the required components, IELCE programs are required to align programming with Maryland’s ESOL content standards, as well as being taught concurrently with instruction on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and civic participation, understanding the American systems of government, education, healthcare, and the American workplace.  Finally, programs receiving IELCE funds under Section 243 of WIOA must ensure that students in the program have access to integrated education and training (IET).  Access to an IET means that students who are in Section 243 (IELCE) funded services are also able to attend an IET course, if interested; however, students enrolled in the IELCE program are not required to participate in such service.

RAs

Governor Moore’s strategic vision for the workforce system is to provide businesses with the skilled workforce they need to compete in the global, regional, and local economies. A bedrock strategy within that vision is the expansion of RA opportunities. The State’s goal is to align RAs with Maryland’s workforce system to ensure that traditional RA expands alongside the creation of new opportunities grounded in labor market demand.

Maryland’s Apprenticeship and Training Program registers three types of apprenticeships: time-based, competency-based, and hybrid models. Competency-based apprenticeship programs are a new addition to Maryland’s menu, introduced into State regulation in 2017. By expanding the menu of apprenticeship models, Maryland has created new opportunities for employers and prospective apprentices seeking alternatives to a time-based apprenticeship.

Maryland has received nearly $20,000,000 in funding to expand RA from the USDOL since 2016.  The latest award comes in the form of the 2023 State Apprenticeship Expansion Grant in the amount of $6,650.620.00.  These funds will serve to align RAs  with public sector apprenticeships and degree bearing apprenticeships in hospitality in conjunction with community college partners and will provide public sector employers and private businesses with a sustainable pipeline in both traditional and non-traditional industry sectors.

Maryland has devoted the majority of funding from each of its USDOL apprenticeship grants directly into programming that enable existing RA programs to increase in size while also allowing for significant investments in new RA programs. For example, as part of the 2020 State Apprenticeship Expansion Grant, Maryland has dedicated $3.2 million to support an Employer Incentive Program (which reimburses employers who hire new apprentices a portion of wages), and a series of awards to expand both registered and youth apprenticeship.

MD Labor has increased its RA staff to integrate apprenticeship into the workforce system by adding Apprenticeship Navigators. A primary area of focus for the Apprenticeship Navigator role is to conduct outreach to the business community, existing sponsors, inactive sponsors, and other potential stakeholder groups. These outreach activities have resulted in the registration of 180 new apprenticeship sponsors, and the reactivation of 38 RA Sponsors since September 2016.  Additionally staff have worked to expand the Youth Apprenticeship Pilot Program into AMP.  The AMP program provides youth apprenticeship opportunities to participating school systems throughout the state.  Originally a two county pilot program, AMP has now expanded to all 24 local  school systems. Presently available to high school students through their school system, youth apprenticeships are “earn and learn” work opportunities focused on high-growth, high demand industries.  A youth apprentice participating in this program receives paid, supervised, structured, On-the-Job Learning (OJL) from a mentor in a specific in-demand occupation with the related instruction being provided by the school system, community colleges, union training center, association, or online.  Youth apprenticeship students work a minimum of 450 hours with a certified employer, while receiving concurrent related instruction through their high school. Participating students typically work during the summer after their junior year and during their senior year with a state-approved employer. They work with a mentor to learn valuable skills and earn industry credentials and high school credit. Students also receive training in interpersonal/social skills and general knowledge of the world of work. Since the program’s inception for the 2016-2017 school year, the number of youth apprentices has climbed from 11 to over 625, with over 575 businesses being approved for the program as of November 2023.

MD Labor will increase opportunities for engagement with the business community, jobseekers and RA Sponsors by utilizing a cross training strategy of the Business Solutions, Reentry Navigators, Local Veteran Employment Representatives (LVER), and Apprenticeship and Training staff.  This strategy provides RA strategies to be provided by all business facing staff creating an efficient outreach effort for Maryland businesses. 

ETPL

To expand the number and diversity of high-quality training providers on the ETPL, the State conducted a highly collaborative process to develop a new ETPL policy and processes. TheWIOA Title I Training & Maryland’s ETPL policy, updated in 2021 and updated again in 2023, was designed to encourage the participation of the education and training institutions that play such a pivotal role in building a highly qualified workforce. Outcomes of the new policy indicate the inclusive development process was successful in communicating the value of the list to stakeholders. Applications from community colleges have seen a sharp increase, and in the short period of time the new policy has been implemented, 58 RA programs have been added. In order to include additional providers on the ETPL.