Located in:
- III. Operational Planning Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports 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—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include a description of the State operating systems and policies that will support the implementation of the State strategy described in section II Strategic Elements. This includes—
- 6. Program Data
- A. Data Alignment and Integration
Describe the plans of the lead State agencies with responsibility for the administration of the core programs, along with the State Board, to align and integrate available workforce and education data systems for the core programs, unemployment insurance programs, and education through postsecondary education, and to the extent possible, the Combined State Plan partner programs included in this plan. The description of the State’s plan for integrating data systems should include the State’s goals for achieving integration and any progress to date.
Describe data-collection and reporting processes used for all programs and activities, including the State’s process to collect and report data on co-enrollment, and for those present in the one-stop centers.
- A. Data Alignment and Integration
- 6. Program Data
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
III. b. 6. A. iv. Describe the State’s data systems and procedures to produce the reports required under section 116, performance accountability system. (WIOA section 116(d)(2)).
Current Narrative:
Data Systems and Procedures to Produce the Reports Required under Section 116.
Arkansas is using its Workforce Data Quality Initiative - WDQI Round 8 grant to develop and produce information and reports required under section 116.
Although the minimum requirements for WIOA reporting are currently met, some systems lack the level of data and programming to produce enhanced products beyond the minimum that is required. Arkansas has established a longitudinal administrative database (LP2), the state must expand its current capacity to further the vision of WIOA and to more effectively analyze the impact of certifications, work experience, education, training programs, and federal workforce programs.
Arkansas objectives for expanding and enhancing the longitudinal data system are centered around the needs of two complementary strategies for promoting continuous learning and improvement in workforce and education. The first strategy is to help the state leaders and service providers continuously improve programs and services and align resources to the evolving needs of citizens to deliver better workforce and education outcomes.
The second strategy is to facilitate continuous learning and collaboration through shared standards and governance, analytic capacity building, coordinated research and data products, and inter-agency, interstate, and cross-sector collaboration to support improved policy outcomes and an engaged community of practice.
Both strategies are heavily reliant upon the availability of:
- A comprehensive database of high-quality, timely, linked administrative longitudinal data
- Training for analyzing data and applying insights for improved performance and policy
- Mechanisms for providing secure, governed, tiered data access and data products to a wide range of state workforce, research, and public users.
Arkansas objectives for the major activities supported by this funding opportunity include:
- Expanding the workforce longitudinal database – The state seeks to expand the scope of the SLDS to support application of the above strategies to WIOA Title I, II, III, and IV programs, Registered Apprenticeship Programs, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
- Improving the quality of workforce data – The state seeks to improve the quality of workforce data by maturing from a legacy repository data warehouse approach to a modern data hub approach that extends SLDS analytical capabilities with best practice data governance and data quality management capabilities including metadata management (data dictionaries), data quality management, and master data management.
- Expanding capacity to match workforce and education data – The state seeks to expand its capacity for administrative data linkage by leveraging advanced probabilistic identity resolution across a broader population and adding support for household linkage.
- Using data for analysis of workforce and education programs – The state seeks to develop a statewide skills gap analysis to support program improvement and alignment as well as products to support analysis of co-enrollment, equity, program cost effectiveness, credential attainment, skills gains, career pathways, work history, and apprenticeships.
- Producing and disseminating workforce training provider performance information and outcomes – The state seeks to disseminate workforce training provider performance information and outcomes via provider performance dashboards.
- Creating user-friendly portals to inform consumer choice – The state seeks to support user-friendly options for informing consumer choice by adding products to the state open data portal and the learning management system informed by user-centered design.
Outcomes
The measurable outcomes expected to result from the project include:
- Increase the employment outcome reporting frequency from annual to quarterly (300%)
- Increase the annual completers covered by the skills gap analysis by 250%
- Increase Arkansas labor force coverage in the SLDS
- Increase coverage of credential attainment in the SLDS
- Provide applied data analytics training on integrated workforce data to 60 participants.
- Increase the number of consumer-facing workforce outcome products from 1 to 6 (500%)
LACES is Adult Education’s online student data management software. It is designed for Adult Basic Education (ABE) and correctional education programs. LACES allows users to easily set baselines and parameters to track program progress and student goals, deliver high-quality results, and streamline data reporting to state and federal agencies. The prepackaged table applications prepared by LACES match the National Reporting System (NRS) federal reporting tables and benchmark standards with similar table formats. As each local provider enters data, data is collected and managed into the appropriate tables for accurate reporting. Local providers enter data throughout the fiscal year. By managing the report parameters, Adult Education can export files and data match with the Department of Higher Education and The Department of Labor for accurate postsecondary participation and employment verification. At the end of the program year, a “freeze” term is used to describe the time when no more data can be entered until after the freeze, which indicates the time for the state to assess the data, make sure it is correct, and begin the end of year summaries. This data freeze is when the files are merged through the LACES system, deduplicated, and updated for reporting.
ARS utilizes its case management system to collect and report all data on the general VR program. ARS works with RSA’s data unit to provide the most accurate and timely performance results.
DSB utilizes the AWARE case management system to collect and report all data on the VR program. The system allows DSB to require and set parameters to enhance accuracy of data entry and collection of all required data elements. DSB has worked closely with RSA’s data unit and Alliance to improve the adaptations in AWARE to provide the most accurate and timely performance results for the program.