Narrative: c. 2.

The Local Boards are responsible for developing local plans for the governor’s approval, designating local One-Stop Operators (OSO), designating eligible partners of training services, negotiating local performance measures with the state workforce board and the Governor, monitoring local system performance against established performance measures, and helping to develop the labor market information system for local areas.  In addition, upon completion of the state's negotiation with U.S. Department of Labor on state performance goals, performance target negotiations are conducted with each LWDB. As a result, expected levels of performance and goals are agreed upon for each local board achieving 90% of their respective negotiated performance goals or exceeding that goal.

Local Boards will facilitate relationships between Partner Programs, local entities, and supportive service agencies for a strengthened service delivery in regard to provision of services to youth, including individuals with disabilities. These relationships will include, as a minimum, procedures for youth participant co-enrollment and common intake as necessary to integrate: intake, case management, and reporting. This shall be the case for all Partner Programs under which youth may be served.

Youth services shall begin with a systematic approach to gathering information about strengths and assets, need and challenges, and interests and goals. These assessments shall be used to determining program eligibility, and subsequently guide the development of individualized plans and all other Case Management activities. Youth shall be co-enrolled as necessary in any programs under WIOA funding sources and any Partner Program that is not WIOA funded, e.g., Adult Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, Children and Family Services that is necessary based on their needs assessment. Youth will be simultaneously co-enrolled in any and all programs under which they are eligible for and receiving services. This will prevent youth having to wait until they exit one program in order to access services offered by other programs and allow them to receive the best combination of services from different funding streams.

For any program year, LWDBs must spend not less than 75 percent of local workforce development area funds to provide direct services to out-of-school youth.  The LWC submitted a waiver request to the USDOL on August 30, 2022 and was approved for the following - 1) authorizing the state to lower the expenditure requirement for Governor's reserve and local areas for PY 2022 and PY 2023 from 75 percent to 50 percent for OSY (out-of-school youth, ages 16-24), and 2) approving the use of individual training accounts (ITAs) for ISY (in-school youth, ages 16 - 21).  While the WIOA Youth waivers were not seemingly successful, LWC intends to request an additional waiver to allow for a full PY to implement.  The waiver will allow for the flexibility and innovation in working with youth, particularly to explore connections with Louisiana's LA23 plan as well as with statewide STEM initiatives. In addition, for any program year, LWDBs must spend not less than 20 percent of the funds allocated to the local area to provide in school youth and out of school youth with paid and unpaid work experience program element (including summer employment, pre-apprenticeship, internship, job shadowing, and on-the-job training). Local boards shall consider the procedures and administrative mechanisms they use to ensure effective and efficient implementation relating to reasonable accommodations issued to parents, participants, and other members of the community with experience to the programs for youth involved in its design and implementation. One-Stop operators shall carry out programs that:

•  Provide an assessment of academic levels, skill levels and occupational skills, any prior work experience, employability, interests and aptitudes.
• Develop service strategies for each youth that directly links to one or more of the established performance indicators.
• Provide activities leading to the attainment of a secondary school diploma, or its recognized equivalent or a recognized postsecondary credential.
• Provide for preparation for postsecondary educational and training opportunities.
• Create strong linkages between academic instruction and student academic achievement standards that lead to postsecondary credentials.
• Prepare for unsubsidized employment opportunities.
• Establish effective connections to employers in demand industry sectors and occupations of the local and regional labor markets.

Local boards shall develop strategies that support the attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, entry into postsecondary education, and career readiness for participants, the programs shall provide elements consisting of:

• Tutoring, study skills training, instruction and evidence-based dropout prevention and recovery strategies that lead to completion of the requirements for a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (including a recognized certificate of attendance or similar document for individuals with disabilities) or for a recognized post-secondary credential.
• Alternative secondary school services, or dropout recovery services, as appropriate.
• Paid and unpaid work experiences that have an academic and occupational education component.
• Pre-Apprenticeship programs
• Occupational skills training, which includes priority consideration for training programs that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials that are aligned with in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the local area involved, if the Local Board determines that the programs meet quality criteria.
• Education offered concurrently with and in the same context as workforce preparation activities and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster.
• Leadership development opportunities including community service and peer-centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive social and civic behaviors.
• Supportive services.
• Adult mentoring for a duration of at least 12 months that may occur both during and after program participation. 
• Follow-up services for not less than 12 months after the completion of participation.
• Comprehensive guidance and counseling, which may include drug and alcohol abuse counseling as well as referrals to counseling, as appropriate to the needs of the individual youth.
• Financial literacy education.
• Entrepreneurial skill training.
• Services that provide labor market and employment information about in-demand industry sectors or occupations available in the local area such as career awareness, career counseling, and career exploration services.
• Activities that help youth prepare for and transition to post-secondary education and training.