Narrative: a. 2. A.

The Planning Guidelines is the official document that sets the public policy and requirements for allocating local area funding for the Youth, Adult and Dislocated Workers programs. In compliance with WIOA regulations, priorities and goals the State planning will meet the needs of services of specific populations and minorities, as well as those of job seekers and employers. The annual Planning Guidelines compile the State and Federal public policies pertaining the management of WIOA funds. This Guide is designed to ensure compliance with ETA policies and goals, as stated in Training and Employment Guidance Letters (TEGL), Training and Employment Notices (TEN), WIOA Final Rules, as well as the State Board policies. Following are some of the items considered in the Planning Guidelines in relation to service delivery under WIOA.

Youth Program

The Guidelines include the eligibility criteria stated in Section 129 (a), as follows:

• Section 129(a)(1)(B), percent Out of School Youth eligibility

• Section 129(a)(1)(C), percent In School Youth eligibility

• Section 129(a)(3)(A)(ii), not more than 5 percent of the individuals might be persons not qualified as low–income individuals. State guidelines require the local boards to develop public policy and eligibility criteria to meet these requirements

It documents the priorities as follows:

• Out of school youth. Section 129(a)(4)(A) of WIOA requires that most of the youth program allocation is used to deliver services to out of school youth. Local Areas must focus their efforts and funds to identify, engage and meet the needs this population, which is a priority under section 129(a)(4)(A) of WIOA, stating that a minimum of 75 percent of the program funds, has to be allocated to out of school youth activities, with priority to older youth.

• Registered Apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship is a business and industry–driven model that will be included as a strategy to increase youth attainment of industry–recognized credentials, as well as to improve youth outcomes. Please, refer to section III(a)(2)(B) for additional information on the program.

• Increasing work experience opportunities. One of the State Board’s priorities is to provide the youth with meaningful work experience opportunities and increasing work experiences for older, out–of–school youth. Section 129(c)(4) states that not less than 20 percent of the funds allocated to the local area shall be used to provide in–school youth and out–of–school youth meaningful work experience activities, including: summer employment opportunities, pre–apprenticeship programs, internships and job shadowing, and on–the–job training opportunities. Also, the State Board have established public policy determining that job placement should be made in high–growth, high–demand occupations in small and medium business, among other industries.

• Increasing service delivery for youth with disabilities. The State Board is committed to eliminate the multiple challenges that adversely affect the education and employment of youth with disabilities. The State encourages youth providers to increase services to youth with disabilities.

Adults and Dislocated Workers Program

The Guidelines include the eligibility criteria stated in WIOA for Adults and Dislocated Workers, and consider the following priorities:

• Basic career services

• Individual career services

• State Board policy for the delivery of training services, based on limitations, priority for service and innovative character of the projects