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Tuesday,

April 12, 2005

Part IV

Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration

Workforce Investment Act: Revisions tothe Workforce Investment Act Title I,

Wagner Peyser Act and the SeniorCommunity Service Employment Program

Unified Planning Guidance; Notice

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19222 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 69/ Tuesday, April 12, 2005/ Notices

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and TrainingAdministration

Workforce Investment Act: Revisionsto the Workforce Investment Act TitleI, Wagner Peyser Act and the SeniorCommunity Service Employment

Program Unified Planning Guidance;Notice

AGENCY: Employment and TrainingAdministration, Department of Labor.ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice isto provide interested parties with therevisions to portions of the WorkforceInvestment Act: Final Unified PlanningGuidance: Notice related to title I ofthe Workforce Investment Act of 1998,the Wagner Peyser Act and the SeniorCommunity Service EmploymentProgram (SCSEP) under title V of the

Older Americans Act, for use by States.The Department is anticipating thereauthorization of the WorkforceInvestment Act (WIA) within the nexttwo years. Therefore, the Employmentand Training Administration (ETA) isrequiring revisions to the Unified Planrelated to WIA and Wagner-Peyser onlyfor the first two years of the five-yearplanning cycle. For SCSEP, States havethe option of submitting a two year planas well. Options for programs funded

by the U.S. Department of Educationthat are included in a States Five-yearStrategic Unified Plan also are discussed

in this notice.The Unified Planning Guidance andInstructions provide a framework for thecollaboration of Governors, LocalElected Officials, businesses and otherpartners to continue the development ofworkforce investment systems thataddress customer needs; deliverintegrated, user-friendly services; andare accountable to the customers andthe public.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.Gay Gilbert, Administrator, Office ofWorkforce Investment, U.S. Departmentof Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue,NW., Room S4231, Washington, DC

20210. Telephone: (202) 6933980(voice) (This is not a toll free number)or (202) 6937755 (TTY). Informationmay also be found at the Web sitehttp://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce.DATES: The effective date of thisdocument is April 12, 2005. Due datefor Plan submission is May 31, 2005.SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: TheWorkforce Investment Act (WIA or Act),Pub. L. 105220 (August 7, 1998)provides the framework for a reformedpublic workforce investment system

designed to meet the needs of thenations employers, job seekers andthose who want to further their careers.This document updates the DOLprovisions of the interagency planningguidelines for the State Unified Plansunder sec. 501 of the Act, to provideguidance for states which choose tosubmit a Unified Plan to meet the WIA

title I State Plan requirements for PY2005 and 2006. Options for programsfunded by the U.S. Department ofEducation that are included in a StatesFive-year Strategic Unified Plan also arediscussed in this notice.

In the context of the 21st centuryinnovation economy, the publicworkforce investment system has acritical role to play at every levellocal,State, and Federalto ensure a skilledand competitive workforce. Toeffectively drive the economic growth ofour communities and the nation and toprovide the workers of this country with

the right skills and opportunities forgood jobs with good pay and careerpathways, the public investments inworkforce development need to bestrategic. Strategies for investment needto embrace new methods of engagementwith strategic partners as well as newservice delivery paradigms that addressthe ever-changing economy and labormarket. Innovation and technology arecontinuously changing the nature ofwork at an accelerated pace. Therefore,the strategic planning process forworkforce investment must be dynamic,fluid, and future oriented.

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA)

of 1998 created dramatic changes to theworkforce system. With the overarchinggoal to streamline, consolidate, andintegrate a wide array of employmentand training programs, system changesspanned every facet of operationincluding governance, administrationand funding, and service delivery. Thevision is for an integrated workforceinvestment system better able torespond to the needs of its customers.The framework of the WorkforceInvestment Act embodies principles thatremain critical to the strategic planningprocess in todays economy.

Since the passage of WIA, theworkforce investment system broadlyhas made great strides in implementingthe principles described above.However, there remains significantopportunity for States and local areas toutilize the framework of WIA to realizethe vision these principles reflect. Thechanges in the WIA State Planningprocess reflected in this document areintended to facilitate a realization ofthat vision as well as to set the stage forthe planning process in the context ofthe 21st century economy.

The Department of Labor sees as oneof its primary roles providing leadershipand guidance to support a system thatmeets the objectives of Title I of WIA,and in which State and local partnershave flexibility to design systems anddeliver services in a manner designed toachieve the goals for WIA based on theirparticular needs. In the context of the

21st century innovation economy, theworkforce investment system has acritical role to play at every levellocal,State, and Federalto ensure a skilledand competitive workforce. Toeffectively drive the economic growth ofour communities and the nation and toprovide the workers of this country withthe right skills and opportunities forgood jobs with good pay and careerpathways, the public investments inworkforce development need to bestrategic. Strategies for investment needto embrace new methods of engagementwith strategic partners as well as new

service delivery paradigms that addressthe ever-changing economy and labormarket. Innovation and technology arecontinuously changing the nature ofwork at an accelerated pace. Therefore,the strategic planning process forworkforce investment must be dynamic,fluid, and future oriented.

Signed at Washington, DC, this 5th day ofApril, 2005.

Emily Stover DeRocco,

Assistant Secretary of Labor, Employmentand Training Administration.

Table of Contents

Part I. State Planning InstructionsA. Statement of PurposeB. BackgroundC. Section 501 Programs and ActivitiesD. Submission of State Unified PlansE. Federal Government Review and

Approval of Unified PlanF. How to Use Attachment BG. Modifications to State PlanH. Inquiries

Part II. National Strategic DirectionA. Vision and Goals related to WIA Title

I and Wagner PeyserB. Demand-driven Workforce Investment

SystemC. System Reform and Increased Focus on

TrainingD. Enhanced Integration through One-Stop

Delivery SystemE. New Vision for Serving Youth Most In

NeedF. A Stronger Workforce Information

SystemG. Effective Utilization of Faith-based and

Community Based OrganizationsH. Increased Use of Flexibility Provisions

in WIAI. Performance Accountability and

Implementation of Common PerformanceMeasures

Part III. United Planning InstructionsA. State Vision and PrioritiesB. One-Stop Delivery System



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19223Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 69/ Tuesday, April 12, 2005/ Notices

C. Plan Development and ImplementationD. Needs AssessmentE. State and Local GovernanceF. FundingG. Activities to Be FundedH. Coordination and Non-DuplicationI. Special Populations and Other Groups

J. Professional Development and SystemImprovement

K. Performance Accountability

L. Data CollectionM. Corrective ActionN. Waiver and Work-Flex Requests

Part IV. Certifications and AssurancesAttachments

A. ETA Regional AdministratorsB. Unified Plan Activities and Program

Checklist

State Unified Plan Planning Guidance

A. Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this document is toprovide guidance to States whichsubmit a State Unified Plan authorized

by title V, section 501 of the WorkforceInvestment Act of 1998 (WIA). The State

Unified Plan Planning Guidancefacilitates the development andsubmission of such a plan, whichaddresses two or more of the programsor activities specified at WIA Section501(b)(2). This planning guidanceupdates the requirements for the WIA/Wagner Peyser Act and SCSEP portionsof the Unified Plan. Options forprograms funded by the U.S.Department of Education that areincluded in a States Five-year StrategicUnified Plan also are discussed in thisnotice. Minor reference updates have

been made for other programs

authorized to be included in the UnifiedPlan. Therefore, States that choose toupdate the WIA/Wagner Peyser and/orSCSEP portions of a Unified Plan needonly submit the updated Plan meetingthe WIA/Wagner Peyser and/or SCSEPrequirements of this document. Statesthat choose to submit a new UnifiedPlan for PYs 20052007 for programsother than SCSEP, title I of WIA and theWagner Peyser Act, will continue to usethe guidance and instructions containedin this document, which have not beenrevised.

An approved Workforce Investment

Plan is required in order for States toreceive formula allotments under WIAtitle I and the Wagner Peyser Act. Thecurrent Workforce Investment Plansexpire June 30, 2005. The Department ofLabor is anticipating the reauthorizationof WIA within the next two years. Tomeet the requirements of WIA andWagner Peyser that States must haveapproved Plans in place to receiveallotments, the Employment andTraining Administration (ETA) isrequiring States to only develop a Planfor the first two years of the five-year

strategic planning cycle. This will allowStates to strategically approach theirworkforce investment policies for theimmediate future, without requiring afull five-year unified plan, in light of theanticipated reauthorization of WIA.States which choose to submit the WIATitle I/Wagner Peyser Plan as part of aUnified Plan must comply with the

requirements of these guidelines.Guidelines for the submission of astand-alone WIA title I Plan are beingissued separately.

Options for programs funded by theU.S. Department of Education. Withrespect to the programs originallyauthorized by the Carl D. PerkinsVocational and Technical Education Actof 1998 (Perkins III) and the AdultEducation and Family Literacy Act(AEFLA), the U.S. Department ofEducation already has issued guidanceto States that discusses the option ofextending the existing State plans with

certain necessary revisions. This optionof extending the existing plan applies aswell to any subsections of a unifiedState plan that are related to programsunder either Perkins III or AEFLA. AStates request to extend subsections ofa unified plan must be submitteddirectly to the U.S. Department ofEducation and is due April 15, 2005, forPerkins III programs and April 1, 2005,for AEFLA programs. See ProgramMemorandum OVAE/DHSPCE FY200503, Guidance for Submission ofState Plan Revisions, Budgets, andProposed Performance Levels forPerkins Grant Awards (OMB Control

number 18300556), dated January 14,2005, at the following Web site: http://www.ed.gov/policy/sectech/guid/cte/memo011405.doc See also Guide for theDevelopment of a State Plan under theAdult Education and Family LiteracyAct (OMB Control number 18300026).

The U.S. Department of Educationanticipates that States will choose theoption of extending their existingsubsections of the currently approvedunified State plans with only therevisions discussed in the above-referenced guidance. However, anyState that chooses to submit new

subsections related to the Perkins III orAEFLA programs in its unified Stateplan submitted in accordance with thisnotice must fully comply with all theplanning, content, and otherrequirements that applied when theunified plan was originally developed,adopted, and submitted. Theserequirements are summarized togetherwith references to the underlyingstatutory and regulatory requirements inthe second section of this notice. Withrespect to the Perkins III programs, forexample, these requirements include

State consultation of required partiesand entities, public hearings, andadoption of the new State plan by theeligible agency, i.e., the State board thatis the sole State agency responsible forthe administration, or the supervision ofthe administration, of the Statesvocational and technical educationprogram. With respect to the AEFLA

program, for example, theserequirements include conducting aneeds assessment.

B. Background

The State Unified Plan PlanningGuidance provides a framework for thecollaboration of Governors, LocalElected Officials, businesses and otherpartners to design and build workforceinvestment systems that addresscustomer needs; deliver integrated, user-friendly services; and are accountable tothe customers and the public. Onlyprovisions related to the SCSEP, WIA

title I and Wagner Peyser Act Plan havebeen changed. The Unified Planrequirements for other programs remainthe same as those outlined in the

January 14, 2000 version of thisdocument (65 Federal Register 2464).

C. Section 501 Programs and Activities

Below is a listing of the programs andactivities covered in Section 501 ofWIA, along with the commonly usedname. In this document, we generallyrefer to the activities and programs bytheir commonly used names. ShouldState staff need information on theprograms listed, a staff contact is

provided here also. Secondary Vocational Education

programs (Perkins III/Secondary) Notethat inclusion of this program in theUnified Plan requires prior approval ofState legislature Administered byDepartment of Education, Office ofVocational and Adult Education. StaffContact:Jennifer Brianas: 2022457808(phone); 2022457837 (fax); (E-mail:

[email protected]). Postsecondary Vocational

Education programs (Perkins III/Postsecondary) Administered byDepartment of Education, Office of

Vocational and Adult Education. StaffContact:Jennifer Brianas: 2022457808(phone); 2022457837 (fax); (E-mail:

[email protected]). Tech-Prep Education (Title II of

Perkins III) Administered byDepartment of Education, Office ofVocational and Adult Education. StaffContact:Jennifer Brianas: 2022457808(phone); 2022457837 (fax); (E-mail:

[email protected]). Activities authorized under title I,

Workforce Investment Systems(Workforce Investment Activities for



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Adults, Dislocated Workers and Youth,or WIA title I) Administered byDepartment of Labor, Employment andTraining Administration. Staff Contact:Christine D. Kulick: 2026933045(phone); 2026933015 (fax); (E-mail:[email protected]).

Activities authorized under title IIof WIA, Adult Education and Family

Literacy (Adult Education and FamilyLiteracy Programs) Administered byDepartment of Education, Office ofVocational and Adult Education. StaffContact:Jennifer Brianas: 2022457808(phone); 2022457837 (fax); (E-mail:

[email protected]). Food Stamp Employment and

Training Program, or FSETAdministered by USDA, Food andNutrition Service. Staff Contact:Micheal Atwell: 7033052449 (phone);7033052486 (fax); (E-mail:[email protected]).

Activities authorized under chapter2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974(Trade Act Programs) Administered byDepartment of Labor, Employment andTraining Administration. Staff Contact:Terry Clark: 2026933707 (phone);2026933585 (fax); (E-mail:[email protected]).

Programs authorized under theWagner-Peyser Act (EmploymentService) Administered by Department ofLabor, Employment and TrainingAdministration. Staff Contact:Stephanie Cabell: 2026932784(phone); 2026933015 (fax); (E-mail:[email protected]).

Programs authorized under part B

of title I of the Rehabilitation Act of1973, other than section 112 of such Act(Vocational Rehabilitation)Administered by Department ofEducation, Rehabilitation ServicesAdministration. Staff Contact:JerryAbbott: 2022457251 (phone); 2022457590 (fax); (E-mail:

[email protected]) Programs authorized under chapters

41 and 42 of title 38, U.S.C., and 20 CFR1001 and 1005 (Veterans Programs,including Veterans Employment,Disabled Veterans Outreach Program,and Local Veterans Employment

Representative Program) Administeredby Department of Labor, VeteransEmployment and Training Service. StaffContact: Pamela Langley: 2026934708(phone); 2026934755 (fax); (E-mail:[email protected]).

Programs authorized under Stateunemployment compensation laws(Unemployment Insurance)Administered by Department of Labor,Employment and TrainingAdministration. Staff Contacts: WilliamCoyne; 2026933202 (phone); 2026933975 (fax); (E-mail:

[email protected]); or DeloresMackall: 2026933183 (phone); 2026933975; (E-mail:[email protected]).

Programs authorized under part Aof title IV of the Social Security Act(Temporary Assistance for NeedyFamilies (TANF) administered byHealth and Human Services,

Administration for Children andFamilies. Staff Contact: Robert M.Shelbourne: 2024015150 (phone);2022055887 (fax); (E-mail:[email protected]).

Programs authorized under title Vof the Older Americans Act of 1965(Senior Community ServiceEmployment Program, or SCSEP)Administered by Department of Labor,Employment and TrainingAdministration. Staff Contact: Ria-Moore Benedict: 2026933198 (phone);2026933817 (fax); (E-mail:[email protected]).

Training activities funded by theDepartment of Housing and UrbanDevelopment under the CommunityDevelopment Block Grants (CDBG) andPublic Housing Programs). StaffContact: Christopher Lord: 2027081506; Fax: 2027082706 (E-mail:[email protected]).

Programs authorized under theCommunity Services Block Grant Act(Community Services Block Grant, orCSBG) Administered by Health andHuman Services, Administration forChildren and Families. Staff Contact:Brandy RayNor: 2022055926 (phone);2024025718 (fax); (E-mail:

[email protected]).While the statute specifies that Statesmay submit a Unified Plan that includestraining activities carried out by HUD,for a number of reasons, the FederalPartners agree that the unique nature ofHUDs training activities warrantsspecial treatment in a Unified Plan.

Accordingly, the final Unified Planguidance provides for informalinclusion of HUDs programs. SinceHUD programs are generally funded andimplemented through localcommunities, and HUDs relevant Stateformula grant programs are not

specifically employment and trainingprograms, States that follow the finalUnified Planning guidance will notautomatically receive funding for HUDsformula programs through their UnifiedPlans. However, to encourage States tothink strategically about developing acomprehensive workforce investmentsystemincluding how that systemrelates to the housing and workforceinvestment needs of the populationreceiving housing assistancethe finalguidance includes references to HUDcustomers and services, as well as local

housing agencies, in the overarchingquestions pertaining to the UnifiedPlans vision and goals, One-Stopservice delivery, and needs assessment.

D. Submission of State Unified Plans

1. SubmissionTime Requirements forSubmission and Points of Contact

States have the option of submitting aUnified Plan to meet the requirementsfor submission of a state WorkforceInvestment Plan for Program Year 2005and 2006. Due to the uncertaintyrelating to possible reauthorization ofWIA, the Federal Government is onlyrequiring the submission of the first twoprogram years of the WIA/WagnerPeyser portion of the five-year UnifiedPlan. The due date for submission of aUnified Plan covering the first two-yearperiod (July 1, 2005 through June 30,2007) is Tuesday, May 31, 2005.

A States request to extendsubsections of a unified plan related to

programs under either Perkins III orAEFLA must be submitted directly tothe U.S. Department of Education and isdue April 15, 2005, for Perkins IIIprograms and April 1, 2005, for AEFLAprograms. See Program MemorandumOVAE/DHSPCE FY 200503, Guidancefor Submission of State Plan Revisions,Budgets, and Proposed PerformanceLevels for Perkins Grant Awards (OMBControl number 18300556), dated

January 14, 2005, at the following Website: http://www.ed.gov/policy/sectech/guid/cte/memo011405.doc. See alsoGuide for the Development of a State

Plan under the Adult Education andFamily Literacy Act (OMB Controlnumber 18300026).

To reduce the reporting andprocessing burden, States have theoption of submitting their WIA/Wagner-Peyser or SCESP Unified Plan to [email protected] to thedesignated Federal Coordinator for PlanReview and Approval (hereafter,Federal Coordinator), dependingupon the submission option chosen bythe State (as discussed below). TheFederal Coordinator is Christine Kulick,e-mail: [email protected]; phone:

2026933045. Her postal address is:Division of One-Stop Operations,Employment and TrainingAdministration, U.S. Department ofLabor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW.,Room S4231, Washington, DC 20210,ATTN: Ms. Christine Kulick.

States are encouraged to send a singlecopy to [email protected](which ismanaged by the Federal Coordinator) ordirectly to the Federal Coordinator whowill be responsible for distributing thePlan to each Federal agency whoseprograms are included in the Unified



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Plan. The Federal Coordinator will alsoprovide a copy of the Plan to theappropriate Department of Labor (DOL)Regional Office.

States have the option, however, ofsubmitting their Unified Plans directlyto each Federal Department whoseprograms are included in the UnifiedPlan, except for Perkins III and AEFLA

simple extensions, which must besubmitted to the U.S. Department ofEducation as stated above. Stateschoosing this option are only requiredto send the Plan to the designatedFederal Departmental State Unified PlanContact (hereafter, DepartmentalContact). The Departmental Contactwill be responsible for ensuring thataffected agencies and appropriateRegional Offices in that Departmentreceive copies of the Unified Plan. Forexample, if a Unified Plan containsplans for both the VocationalRehabilitation and the Postsecondary

Vocational Education programs, both ofwhich are administered by differentagencies within the United StatesDepartment of Education, the State needonly submit the Plan to the U.S.Department of Education once, and itshould be sent to the DepartmentalContact. Electronic mail addresses forthe Departmental Contacts are asfollows:Department of Labor:

[email protected] of Education:

[email protected] of Health and Human

Services: [email protected] of Agriculture:

[email protected] of Housing and Urban

Development:[email protected]

2. Submission OptionsElectronic, CDROM or Hard Copy Format

States have the option to submitUnified Plans in an electronic, hardcopy, or CDROM format. The FederalGovernment is encouraging States tosubmit Unified Plans in electronicformat to reduce the reporting andprocess burden and to ensure timely

receipt by each Federal agency whoseprograms are included in the UnifiedPlan.

Electronic submission. States cansubmit a Unified Plan electronicallyeither by posting it on an Internet Website that is accessible to the Departmentor by transmitting it through electronicmail to the Department.

Posting Unified Plans on an InternetWeb site. Under this option, a State needonly post its Plan on an Internet Website; inform the Federal Coordinatorthrough electronic mail of the URL and

the location of the document on theWeb site; provide contact information inthe event of problems with accessing theWeb site; and certify that no changeswill be made to the version of the Planposted on the Web site after it has beensubmitted to the Department, unless theFederal Coordinator or Federal agencyoverseeing the portion to be changed

grants prior approval. The FederalCoordinator will ensure that Federalagencies whose programs are includedin the Unified Plan, and the appropriateDOL Regional Office, receive therelevant information: the URL and thelocation of the document on the Website; the contact information; and a copyof the statement certifying that therewill be no changes.

Transmitting Unified Plans byelectronic mail. Any State submitting itsPlan by electronic mail should send itto [email protected]. The FederalCoordinator, who manages this site, will

ensure that Federal agencies whoseprograms are included in the UnifiedPlan receive a copy. The FederalCoordinator will also provide a copy tothe appropriate DOL Regional Office.

Other considerations when usingelectronic submission. Unified Plancertifications with electronic signaturesare acceptable. If a State chooses not touse an electronic signature, then thesignature page must be submitted inhard copy. If a State chooses to submitits Unified Plan by transmitting itthrough electronic mail, the State mustsubmit it in Microsoft Word or PDF

format.Hard copy or CDROM submission.States choosing to submit a hard copyshould submit one copy of the Plan(with an original signature) to ChristineKulick, the Federal Coordinator for PlanReview and Approval (the address isprovided above). The FederalCoordinator will ensure that Federalagencies whose programs are includedin the Unified Plan, and the appropriateDOL Regional Office, receive copies ofthe Plan.

States submitting a Unified Plan onCDROM should submit one copy of the

Plan to Christine Kulick, the FederalCoordinator for Plan Review andApproval. The Federal Coordinator willensure that Federal agencies whoseprograms are included in the UnifiedPlan, and the appropriate DOL RegionalOffice, receive copies of the Plan. If thePlan on the CDROM does not includethe signature of the Governor on thesignature page, the State must submitseparately an electronic signature or asignature page in hard copy. Planssubmitted on a CDROM must be inMicrosoft Word or PDF format.

It is important that States recognizethat mail security requirementsimplemented by the U.S. Postal Servicecan result in delays in delivery of Planswhereas Federal Express and UnitedParcel Service deliveries have not beenimpacted.

States are encouraged to include atable of contents at the beginning of its

State Unified Plan. This will facilitateaccess by the public to its componentparts and aid the Federal Government inits review of the Unified Plan. Statessubmitting a hard copy of their Plan areencouraged to provide an unbound copyto facilitate duplication.

The Federal Coordinator, withoutregard to which option the State uses forsubmission, will confirm receipt of theState Unified Plan within two workdaysof receipt and indicate the date for thestart of the review period. When a Statesubmits an incomplete Plan, the periodfor review will not start until allrequired components of the UnifiedPlan have been received.

E. Federal Government Review andApproval of Unified Plan

Section 501(d)(2) of WIA States that aportion of a State Unified Plan coveringan activity or program is to beconsidered to be approved by theappropriate Secretary at the end of the90-day period beginning on the day theappropriate Secretary receives theportion unless the appropriate Secretarymakes a written determination, duringthe 90-day period, that the portion is notconsistent with the requirements of the

Federal statute authorizing the activityor program or section 501(c)(3) of WIA.However, for Unified Plans that aresubmitted by May 31, 2005, for the two-year planning period, July 1, 2005through June 30, 2007, the Departmentof Labor is committed to completing itsreview of those portions of the UnifiedPlan related to WIA/WP and SCSEPwithin 30 days, to allow Statesadditional time to prepare the Plan.

The appropriate Secretary, or his/herrepresentative, will advise the State byletter, as soon as possible, that theportion of the Unified Plan over which

his/her agency exercises administrativeauthority is approved or disapproved. Ifthe plan is not approved, theappropriate Secretary, or his/herrepresentative, will advise the State byletter that the portion of the UnifiedPlan over which his/her agencyexercises administrative authority is notconsistent with the requirements of theFederal statute authorizing the activityor program, or with section 501(c)(3) ofWIA Unified Plan, and clearly indicatethe reasons for disapproval and specifywhat additional information is required



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or what action needs to be taken for theUnified Plan to be approved.

F. How To Use Attachment B

1. Forms for State Use

In Attachment B you will find threeforms for use in submitting your StateUnified Plan. These forms are availablefor electronic download, along with thisentire guidance, at http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce.

a. Unified Plan Activities andPrograms Checklist: Please provide a listof the section 501 programs andactivities you have included in yourPlan. Use of this specific format isoptional.

b. Contact Information: Pleaseprovide the contact informationrequested for each of the Section 501programs and activities that you haveincluded in your Plan. Programs andactivities may be combined on one formif they have the same contact

information. Use of this specific formatis optional.c. Plan Signature(s): Please provide

the required signatures as appropriatefor the programs and activities you haveincluded in your State Unified Plan. Useof this specific format is optional, butthe wording on your signature pagemust be identical to that provided here.

2. Program Descriptions

Please respond fully to the generalquestions in the program descriptionssection, as well as the additionalquestions that relate to the programsand activities that are included in your

States Unified Plan.

3. Certifications and Assurances

By signing the signature page(s), youare assuring or certifying those items inthe Certifications and Assurancessection that apply to the programs andactivities you have included in yourStates Unified Plan.

G. Modifications

Modifications may be needed in anynumber of areas to keep the UnifiedPlan a viable, living document over itstwo-year life. WIA regulations permit

states to modify their state workforceinvestment plan at any time. In general,it is substantial changes to the UnifiedPlan that require a modification, i.e.,any change that significantly impactsthe operation of the states workforceinvestment system.

Plan modifications must be submittedto the Federal Coordinator, who willensure that Federal agencies whoseprograms are included in the UnifiedPlan receive a copy, or to appropriateFederal agency, in accordance with theprocedures of the affected agency. Prior

to submission of the modification forreview and approval by the FederalGovernment, the designated Stateagency must circulate the modificationsamong the other state and/or localagencies that may be affected by thechanges. Inclusion of a program in thestate Unified Plan does not remove thestatutory requirement for certain

programs to annually review the planand submit modifications as needed orto revise a plan to reflect newlynegotiated performance levels.

Modifications to the Unified Plan aresubject to the same public review andcomment requirements that apply to thedevelopment of the original plan. Statesshould direct any questions about theneed to submit a plan modification tothe Federal Coordinator, theDepartmental Contacts listed above, orto the Regional Administrator orRegional Commissioner who exercisesadministrative authority over the

activity or program(s) impacted by themodification.

H. Inquiries

General inquiries about the StateUnified Plan process may be directed tothe Federal Coordinator for Plan Reviewand Approval. The electronic mailaddress for the Federal Coordinator(Christine Kulick) [email protected]. The FederalCoordinator may be contacted by phoneat 2026933045. Inquiries related tospecific activities and programs can bedirected to the staff contacts listedabove.

II. National Strategic Direction

A. Vision and Goals Related to WIATitle I and Wagner Peyser

1. The purpose of this portion of thisWIA and Wagner Peyser UnifiedPlanning Guidance is to communicatenational direction and strategicpriorities for the workforce investmentsystem. Broadly, the Federal goals forthe workforce investment system forthis planning cycle include:

a. Realizing the reforms envisioned bythe Workforce Investment Act

including:i. Integrated, seamless service deliverythrough comprehensive One-StopCareer Centers;

ii. A demand-driven workforce systemgoverned by business-led WorkforceInvestment Boards;

iii. Maximum flexibility in tailoringservice delivery and making strategicinvestment in workforce developmentactivities to meet the needs of State andlocal economies and labor markets;

iv. Customers making informedchoices based on quality workforce

information and accessing qualitytraining providers;

v. Increased fiscal and performanceaccountability; and

vi. A youth program targeting out-of-school populations with increasedaccountability for employment and/orincreased secondary and post-secondaryeducation outcomes.

b. Incorporating new statutory andregulatory program requirements thathave evolved since the passage of WIA,such as priority of service for veteransas prescribed by the Jobs for VeteransAct (Pub. L. 107288), (38 U.S.C. 4215).

c. Providing the national strategicpriorities and direction in the followingareas:

i. Implementation of a demand-drivenworkforce system;

ii. System reform to eliminateduplicative administrative costs and toenable increased training investments;

iii. Enhanced integration of servicedelivery through One-Stop deliverysystems nationwide;

iv. A refocusing of the WIA youthinvestments on out-of-school youthpopulations, collaborative servicedelivery across Federal programs, andincreased accountability;

v. Improved development anddelivery of workforce information tosupport Workforce Investment Boards intheir strategic planning andinvestments; providing tools andproducts that support business growthand economic development; andproviding quality career guidancedirectly to students and job seekers and

their counselors through One-StopCareer Centers;

vi. Faith-based and community-basedorganizations playing an enhanced rolein workforce development;

vii. Enhanced use of waivers andworkflex provisions in WIA to providegreater flexibility to States and localareas in structuring their workforceinvestment systems; and

viii. Reporting against commonperformance measures across Federalemployment and training programs.

B. Demand-Driven WorkforceInvestment System

1. The realities of todays globaleconomy make it imperative that thepublic workforce investment system bedemand-driven, providing services thatprepare workers to take advantage ofnew and increasing job opportunities inhigh growth/high demand andeconomically vital industries andsectors of the American economy. Thefoundation of this effort is partnershipsthat include the workforce system,

business and industry, and educationand training providers, that develop and



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implement a strategic vision foreconomic development. Becomingdemand-driven represents a majortransformation of this system, which, for40 years, has been primarily framedaround individuals needs for servicerather than focusing on both the needsof job seekers and the businesscommunity.

2. To be successful, the workforceinvestment system must begin today toprepare the workforce of tomorrow.Each year, the United States investsapproximately $15 billion into theworkforce system. To ensure that thislarge investment is used effectively, it isimperative that all of the components ofthe workforce system at the national,State, and local levels become demand-driven and contribute to the economicwell-being of communities and thenation by developing a qualified andcompetitive workforce. Current jobopportunities must be known as well as

where the good jobs will be in the futureby (1) identifying the workforce needsin high-growth, high-demand andeconomically critical industries and thenecessary preparation required tosucceed in those occupations and (2)understanding the workforce challengesthat must be addressed to ensure aprepared and competitive workforce.This requires all of the key players inthe State and local system, includingGovernors and Local Elected Officials,State and Local Workforce InvestmentBoards (WIBs), State WorkforceAgencies, and One-Stop Career Centersto:

a. Have a firm grasp of their State andlocal economies;

b. Strategically invest and leveragetheir resources;

c. Build partnerships betweenindustry leaders and educationalinstitutions that develop solutions toworkforce challenges; and

d. Allocate training dollars to providethe skills and competencies necessary tosupport industry now and in the future.

3. The workforce investment system isa catalyst that links employers,economic development organizations,public agencies, and the education

community to build and deliverinnovative answers to workforcechallenges.

4. Development of a demand drivenstrategic plan requires utilizingeconomic information and analysis todrive strategic investments, identifyingstrategic partners, and designingeffective service delivery systems. Someof the important elements of a demand-driven strategic plan include thefollowing:

a. Economic analysis is a fundamentalstarting point for a demand-driven

approach to workforce investment. Awide array of workforce information anddata, including economic indicators,labor market information, census data,educational data, transactional data,projections and data from the privatesector, and one-on-one interviews with

businesses needs to be collected andanalyzed.

b. Workforce strategies that targetindustries that are high growth, highdemand and critical to the State and/orlocal economy are most likely tosupport economic growth and provideindividuals with the opportunities to getgood jobs with good pay and careerpathways.

c. Strategic partnerships among theworkforce investment system, targeted

businesses and industries, economicdevelopment agencies, and educationand training providers (including K12)provide a strong foundation foridentifying workforce challenges and

developing and implementinginnovative workforce solutions focusedon a workforce with the right skills. Theworkforce system must be the catalystfor bringing these target partnershipstogether.

d. A solutions-based approach thatbrings the right strategic partners andresources to the table promotes acomprehensive analysis of workforcechallenges and also provides thesynergy for successful, innovativeworkforce solutions and the opportunityto effectively leverage workforceinvestment resources.

e. A demand-driven workforce

investment system ensures that the fullarray of assets available through theOne-Stop delivery system is available tosupport individual workers as well as toprovide solutions to workforce issuesidentified by business and industry.

f. Translating the demand for workerswith the skills businesses need intodemand-driven career guidance must beone of the human resource solutionsprovided broadly by the workforceinvestment system.

5. The WIA and Wagner Peyserrelated Unified Planning guidanceincludes new language in support of

these principles which offers States anopportunity, in the context of the StatePlanning process, to formally articulatedemand-driven goals and strategiestailored to the unique needs of the State.

C. System Reform and Increased Focuson Training

1. Workforce training is one of themajor areas in which the President isfocusing reform efforts. In April 2004,he challenged the workforce investmentsystem at the State and local levels toeliminate unnecessary overhead costs

and simplify administration in order topreserve more resources for training.The system currently spendsapproximately 30% of appropriatedfunds each year on infrastructure andother costs as currently reported byStates as part of their routine reportingunder WIA. Some of these funds arewisely spent, but clearly more can be

made available for training. ThePresident has called for the system todouble the number of individualstrained under major WIA grantprograms. Through WIAreauthorization, additional reforms insupport of these goals are anticipated.

2. The WIA State Plan provides Stateswith a platform to promote greaterefficiencies in the workforce system byarticulating administrative policies forState and local governance processes.The State has multiple vehicles toincrease consolidation and integrationof the infrastructure through policies,

required practices, provision oftechnical assistance and monitoring.The State also can articulate its goals forexpenditures of resources for training inindustries and occupations critical tothe States economy.

D. Enhanced Integration Through One-Stop Delivery System

1. One of the primary expectations ofthe workforce system under the WIAstatutory framework is a seamless,integrated One-Stop delivery system.The expectation for an integratedservice delivery system remains firmlyembedded as a key principle of a

demand-driven workforce system.2. The goal of integration is to ensurethat the full spectrum of communityassets is used in the service deliverysystem, and to support human capitalsolutions for businesses, industry andindividual customers. Differentprograms fund different types ofservices and serve different populations.These unique program features in thesystem provide both breadth and depthto the human capital solutions offered to

businesses and industry. However, theassets go beyond program funding, andwithout integration of those assets, the

system limits its impact and success.3. The workforce system has had avision of integration for over a decade,supported with the Federal investmentin One-Stop Centers in the mid-1990sand later realized in statute with thepassage of WIA. Despite many efforts,the vision of seamless, integratedservice delivery remains unrealized inmany areas. It is still all too common tovisit local areas across the nation andfind a One-Stop office within blocks ofa separate job service or affiliateoffice or a comprehensive One-Stop



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Center where programs are co-located,but with little integration. In addition,there is often a lack of consistency inpolicy and service delivery acrossworkforce investment areas within aState, which causes customer confusionand frustration. While there are realchallenges to achieving the vision ofintegration, it is a vision that can be

realized. Due to strong leadership,creativity, and hard work at the Stateand local levels, a number of One-StopCenters have overcome turf issues andadministrative challenges to offerintegrated service delivery.

4. Strong State leadership has beenidentified as one of the key successfactors in achieving integration in One-Stop Centers. The WIA State Planningprocess offers a unique opportunity forthe Governor and the State WorkforceInvestment Board to clearly articulatethe States goals for integration and tohelp remove any barriers. The

Employment and TrainingAdministration (ETA) is committed toworking with States to supportintegration efforts.

E. New Vision for Serving Youth Most InNeed

1. The Administration is committed totrying bold, innovative and flexibleinitiatives to prepare the most at-riskand neediest youth for jobs in ourchanging economy. ETA, incollaboration with the Departments ofEducation, Health and Human Services,and Justice, has developed a newstrategic vision to more effectively and

efficiently serve out-of-school and thoseat risk of dropping out-of-school(Training and Employment GuidanceNotice No. 304). Regional YouthForums were conducted in the fall of2004 that brought together State youthleaders to develop similar partnershipsat the State level, and to begin todevelop a common vision and actionplan for implementing cross-agencyState approaches for serving theneediest youth.

2. Out-of-school youth (and thosemost at risk of dropping out) are animportant part of the new workforce

supply pipeline needed by businesses tofill job vacancies in a knowledge-basedeconomy. WIA-funded youth programsshould connect these youth with qualitysecondary and post-secondaryeducational opportunities and high-growth and other employmentopportunities.

3. ETAs new vision for serving youthwill present challenges for how Stateand local WIA programs interact andlink with State and local education andeconomic development systems. Toachieve this vision, States should

consider this new strategic approachand associated goals across four majorareas:

a. Alternative EducationGoal:Provide leadership to ensure that youthserved in alternative educationprograms will receive a high qualityeducation that adheres to the Statestandards developed in response to the

No Child Left Behind (NCLB)legislation.

b. Demand of BusinessGoal: Theinvestment of WIA youth resources will

be demand-driven, assuring that youthobtain the skills needed by businessesso that they can succeed in the 21stcentury economy.

c. Neediest YouthGoal: Investmentswill be prioritized to serve youth mostin need including out-of-school youth(and those at risk of dropping out ofschool), youth in foster care, those agingout of foster care, youth offenders,children of incarcerated parents,homeless youth, and migrant andseasonal farmworker youth.

d. Improved PerformanceGoal: Keyinitiatives will be implemented toassure that programs are performance-

based and focused on outcomes.4. ETA has developed strategic

partnerships at the Federal level withthe Department of Educations Office ofVocational and Adult Education, theDepartment of Health and HumanServices Administration for Childrenand Families, and the Department of

Justices Office of Juvenile Justice andDelinquency Prevention. Through theState Planning process, Governors have

the opportunity to promote strategicpartnerships across State agenciesserving youth to enhance servicedelivery and more effectively leverageavailable resources. ETA encouragesGovernors to play a key leadership rolein enhancing intra-State coordinationamong these agencies and to developcross-agency approaches for servingyouth. The WIA State Planning processis a vehicle for driving a Statewideyouth vision that ensures thatpreviously marginalized youth becomean important pipeline of workers.

F. A Stronger Workforce Information

System1. As discussed previously, a strong

foundation of economic data andworkforce information, along with theability to analyze the data and transformit into easily understood intelligence, isone of the keys to effective strategicplanning for a demand-driven workforceinvestment system. To achieve thatvision, the workforce system needs tomove beyond traditional labor marketinformation strategies and develop aworkforce information system that helps

drive both economic development andworkforce investment for the State. Intheir lead role, States need to embracea wide array of data sources, newstrategies for making it available tocustomers, and consider alternativeways to invest and leverage public andprivate resources to build the Statesworkforce information system.

Workforce information is critical notonly for driving the investments of theworkforce system, but it is also afundamental decision tool for thenations businesses, students, workers,parents, guidance counselors, andeducation institutions. Thedevelopment of workforce informationis the responsibility broadly ofGovernors, State workforce agencies,State agencies designated under WIA asresponsible for labor marketinformation, State economicdevelopment agencies, and LocalWorkforce Investment Boards.

G. Effective Utilization of Faith-Basedand Community-Based Organizations

1. President Bush signed ExecutiveOrder 13198 on January 29, 2001, withthe goal of removing statutory,regulatory, and procedural barriers thatprevent faith-based and communityorganizations (FBCOs) fromparticipating in the provision of socialservices. The Department of LaborCenter for Faith-based and CommunityInitiatives, created under the ExecutiveOrder has worked closely with ETA tohelp increase the opportunities for

FBCOs to partner with the workforceinvestment system. As legal andregulatory barriers have been removed,the Department of Labor has beenincreasingly focusing on ways tointegrate FBCOs into the WIA system atthe local level including:

a. Expanding the access of faith-basedand community organizations clientsand customers to the training, job andcareer services offered by the local One-Stop Centers;

b. Increasing the number of faith-based and community organizationsserving as committed and active

partners in the One-Stop deliverysystem.

2. By integrating the workforce systemwith the resources available throughthese organizations, the capacity of theworkforce investment system to servethose most in need is significantlyexpanded. Continuing to promoteintegration of FBCOs remains a focalpoint for the President and theDepartment of Labor. States areencouraged to incorporate strategies thatinclude FBCOs into their State Plans.



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H. Increased Use of FlexibilityProvisions in WIA

For the workforce system to besuccessful in promoting businessprosperity and employmentopportunities for workers, States musthave the flexibility to design innovativeprograms based on local need and labor

markets. WIA as it exists today providessignificant opportunities to States toobtain waivers of statutory andregulatory requirements that mayimpede achieving the States workforcegoals. Therefore, one of the key focalpoints as States move into a newplanning cycle is to encourage States toutilize the full range of flexibilityoffered under WIAs waiver andworkflex provisions. The workflexoption has not been utilized by Statesand may offer the greatest range ofopportunity for States. ETA iscommitted to sharing the waiverstrategies States have utilized to date

and providing technical assistance toStates considering requesting waivers.The State Unified Plan provides avehicle for the State to identify waiveropportunities and to formally requestwaivers in concert with overall strategicplanning. Waivers may be requested atother times as well.

I. Performance Accountability andImplementation of CommonPerformance Measures

1. Improved performanceaccountability for customer-focusedresults is a central feature of WIA and

remains a strategic priority for thePresident and the Department of Labor.In an effective accountability system, aclear link should exist between theStates program design and the resultsachieved. The performance informationshould be available to and easilyunderstood by all customers,stakeholders, and operators of theworkforce investment system.

2. To enhance the management of theworkforce system and the usability ofperformance information, theDepartment, in collaboration with otherFederal agencies, has developed a set of

common performance measures forFederally-funded training andemployment programs. The value ofcommon measures is the ability todescribe in a similar manner the corepurposes of the workforce systemdidpeople find jobs; did people stayemployed; and did earnings increase?Standardizing the definitions of theoutcomes across programs simplifiesreporting. Coupled with valid andaccurate information, use of commonmeasures provides a greater ability tocompare and manage results.

3. It is ETAs intent to begin datacollection in support of commonmeasures effective July 1, 2005, forProgram Year 2005. This was recentlyannounced in Training andEmployment Guidance Letter 1804,Announcing the soon-to-be-publishedProposed Revisions to ExistingPerformance Reporting Requirements

for the Implementation of CommonMeasures for title I of the WorkforceInvestment Act (WIA), the Wagner-Peyser Act (Employment Service (ES)/Labor Exchange), the Trade AdjustmentAssistance Reform Act (TAA), and title38, chapter 41 Job Counseling, Training,and Placement Service (VeteransEmployment and Training Service(VETS)). Prior to the effective date,ETA will publish proposed revisions toreporting and recordkeepingrequirements in support of commonmeasures in a separate Federal RegisterNotice.

4. The common measures are anintegral part of ETAs performanceaccountability system. ETA willcontinue to collect from states andgrantees other data on programactivities, participants, and outcomesnecessary for program management,including data that support the existingWIA performance measures, and toconvey full and accurate information onthe performance of workforce programsto policymakers and stakeholders.

III. Unified Planning Instructions

Note: The statutes cited in parentheses

refer to the authorizing legislation for eachrespective program. This unified planningguidance only relates to planningrequirements; it does not affect the statutoryand regulatory requirements relating to otheraspects of programs included in the plan.References to the Welfare-to-Work programhave been deleted due to the expiration ofthat program.

A. Vision and Priorities

WIA/Wagner Peyser Planrequirements:

1. Describe the Governors vision fora Statewide workforce investmentsystem. Provide a summaryarticulating

the Governors vision for utilizing theresources of the workforce system insupport of the States economicdevelopment that address the issues andquestions below. States are encouragedto attach more detailed documents toexpand upon any aspect of the summaryresponse if available. (WIA 112(a) and(b)(4)(AC).)

2. What are the States economicdevelopment goals for attracting,retaining and growing business andindustry within the State? ( 112(a) and(b)(4)(AC).)

3. Given that a skilled workforce is akey to the economic success of every

business, what is the Governor s visionfor maximizing and leveraging the broadarray of Federal and State resourcesavailable for workforce investmentflowing through the States cabinetagencies and/or education agencies inorder to ensure a skilled workforce for

the States business and industry?( 112(a) and (b)(4)(AC).)

4. Given the continuously changingskill needs that business and industryhave as a result of innovation and newtechnology, what is the Governorsvision for ensuring a continuum ofeducation and training opportunitiesthat support a skilled workforce?( 112(a) and (b)(4)(AC).)

5. What is the Governors vision forbringing together the key players inworkforce development including

business and industry, economicdevelopment, education, and the

workforce system to continuouslyidentify the workforce challenges facingthe State and to develop innovativestrategies and solutions that effectivelyleverage resources to address thosechallenges? ( 112(b)(10).)

6. What is the Governors vision forensuring that every youth has theopportunity to develop and achievecareer goals through education andworkforce training, including the youthmost in need, such as out of schoolyouth, homeless youth, youth in fostercare, youth aging out of foster care,youth offenders, children of

incarcerated parents, migrant andseasonal farmworker youth, and otheryouth at risk? ( 112(a).)

7. Given the labor shortage that willcontinue to increase over the next 25years, describe the Governors vision forhow it will ensure that older individualsreceive workforce training that willprepare them to reenter the labor marketand become a workforce solution foremployers. ( 112 (b)(17)(A)(iv).)

B. One-Stop Delivery System

1. Describe the States comprehensivevision of an integrated service deliverysystem, including the role each programincorporated in the Unified Plan in thedelivery of services through that system.

In answering this question, if yourUnified Plan includes:

(a) WIA Title I and Wagner-Peyser Actand/or Veterans Programs:

(i.) Identify how the State will useWIA Title I funds to leverage otherFederal, State, local, and privateresources in order to maximize theeffectiveness of such resources and toexpand the participation of business,employees, and individuals in the



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Statewide workforce investmentsystem? ( 112(b)(10).)

(ii.) What strategies are in place toaddress the national strategic directiondiscussed in Part I of this guidance, theGovernors priorities, and the workforcedevelopment issues identified throughthe analysis of the States economy andlabor market? ( 112(a) and

112(b)(4)(D).)(iii.) Based on the States economic

and labor market analysis, whatstrategies has the State implemented orplans to implement to identify andtarget industries and occupations withinthe State that are high growth, highdemand, and vital to the Stateseconomy? ( 112(a) and 112(b)(4)(A).)The State may want to consider:

Industries projected to add asubstantial number of new jobs to theeconomy; or

Industries that have a significantimpact on the overall economy; or

Industries that impact the growth ofother industries; or Industries that are being

transformed by technology andinnovation that require new skill sets forworkers; or

Industries that are new andemerging and are expected to grow.

(iv.) What strategies are in place topromote and develop ongoing andsustained strategic partnerships thatinclude business and industry,economic development, the workforcesystem, and education partners (K12,community colleges, and others) for thepurpose of continuously identifying

workforce challenges and developingsolutions to targeted industriesworkforce challenges? ( 112(b)(8).)

(v.) What State strategies are in placeto ensure that sufficient systemresources are being spent to supporttraining of individuals in high growth/high demand industries? ( 112(b)(4)(A)and 112(b)(17)(A)(i).)

(vi.) What workforce strategies doesthe State have to support the creation,sustainability, and growth of small

businesses and support for theworkforce needs of small businesses aspart of the States economic strategy?

( 112(b)(4)(A) and 112(b)(17)(A)(i).)(vii.) How are the funds reserved forStatewide activities used to incent theentities that make up the Statesworkforce system at the State and locallevels to achieve the Governors visionand address the national strategicdirection identified in part I of thisguidance? ( 112(a).)

(viii.) Describe the States strategies topromote collaboration between theworkforce system, education, humanservices, juvenile justice, and others to

better serve youth that are most in need

and have significant barriers toemployment, and to successfullyconnect them to education and trainingopportunities that lead to successfulemployment. ( 112(b)(18)(A).)

(ix.) Describe the States strategies toidentify State laws, regulations, policiesthat impede successful achievement ofworkforce development goals and

strategies to change or modify them.( 112(b)(2).)

(x.) Describe how the State will takeadvantage of the flexibility provisions inWIA for waivers and the option toobtain approval as a workflex Statepursuant to 189(i) and 192.

2. Describe the actions the State hastaken to ensure an integrated One-Stopservice delivery system Statewide.( 112(b)(14) and 121).)

a. What State policies and proceduresare in place to ensure the quality ofservice delivery through One-StopCenters such as development of

minimum guidelines for operatingcomprehensive One-Stop Centers,competencies for One-Stop CareerCenter staff or development of acertification process for One-StopCenters? ( 112(b)(14).)

b. What policies or guidance has theState issued to support maximumintegration of service delivery throughthe One-Stop delivery system for both

business customers and individualcustomers? ( 112(b)(14).)

c. What actions has the State taken topromote identifying One-Stopinfrastructure costs and developingmodels or strategies for local use that

support integration? ( 112(b)(14).)d. How does the State use the funds

reserved for Statewide activitiespursuant to ( 129(b)(2)(B) and134(a)(2)(B)(v) to assist in theestablishment and operation of One-Stop delivery systems? ( 112(b)(14).)

e. How does the State ensure the fullspectrum of assets in the One-Stopdelivery system support human capitalsolutions for businesses and individualcustomers broadly? ( 112(b)(14).)

C. Plan Development andImplementation

1. Describe the methods used for jointplanning and coordination of theprograms and activities included in theUnified Plan. (WIA 501(c)(3)(A).)

State Consultation with Local Areasin Development of Plan: Theauthorizing statutes for many of theprograms that may be included in aUnified Plan require that the State Plan

be developed in consultation withvarious public and private entities, aswell as members of the general public.Some statutes also require formal publichearings. Depending upon the programs

that a State chooses to include in itsUnified Plan, it may be possible for theState to satisfy many of theseconsultation requirements through asingle set of processes. For example,

both WIA Title I and Perkins III requirethat the business community beinvolved in the development of theState Plans for these programs. The

State may satisfy both of theserequirements by involving the businesscommunity in the development of aUnified Plan that includes the twoprograms. Separate consultations are notnecessary.

2. Describe the process used by theState to provide an opportunity forpublic comment and participation foreach of the programs covered in theUnified Plan.

In addition, if your Unified Planincludes:

(a) Perkins III, the eligible agencymust hold public hearings and includea summary of the recommendationsmade by all segments of the public andinterested organizations and groups andthe eligible agencys response to therecommendations in the State Plan.( 122(a)(3).)

(b) WIA Title I and Wagner-Peyser Actand/or Veterans Programs, describe theprocess used by the State, consistentwith section 111(g) of WIA, to providean opportunity for public comment,including comments by representativesof business and representatives of labororganizations, and input intodevelopment of the Plan, prior tosubmission of the Plan.

(c) Adult Education and FamilyLiteracy, describe the process that will

be used for public participation andcomment with respect to the AEFLAportion of the Unified Plan.( 224(b)(9).)

(d) TANF, the State shall makeavailable to the public a summary of anyPlan or Plan amendment submitted bythe State under this section. Withrespect to the TANF plan design, localgovernments and private sectororganizations have been consultedregarding the plan and design of welfareservices in the State so that the services

are provided in a manner appropriate tolocal populations; and have had at least45 days to submit comments on the planand the design of such services.( 402(c).)

(e) CSBG, provide evidence that thepublic participation requirements weremet, including documents whichconfirms that a legislative publichearing on the State Plan was conductedas required by subsection 675(b) andthat the Plan was also made availablefor public inspection and review asrequired by 675(d)(2).



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3. This section should describe thetypes of activities and outcomes thatwere conducted to meet theconsultation requirement. Demonstrate,as appropriate, how comments wereconsidered in the plan developmentprocess including specific informationon how the various WIA agency andprogram partners were involved in

developing the unified State Plan.The following agencies, groups or

individuals must be consulted, if yourUnified Plan includes:

(a) Perkins III: ( 122(a)(3),(b)(1),(c)(3), (e)(3).)

Parents. Teachers. Students. Eligible Recipients. Representatives of special

populations in the State. Representatives of business and

industry in the State, including small-and medium-sized local businesses.

Representatives of labororganizations in the State. Interested community members. Governor of the State.In addition, the eligible agency must

consult with the State agencyresponsible for secondary education andthe State agency responsible forsupervision of community colleges,technical institutes, or other 2-year postsecondary institutions primarilyengaged in providing postsecondaryvocational and technical educationconcerning the amount and uses offunds proposed to be reserved for adult

vocational and technical education,postsecondary vocational and technicaleducation, tech-prep education, andsecondary vocational technicaleducation. Include any objections filed

by either agency and your response(s).( 122(e)(3).)

(b) WIA Title I and Wagner-Peyser Actand/or Veterans Programs: ( 112(b)(1)and 112(b)(9).)

The Governor of the State and StateBoard.

Local Chief elected officials. Business community. Labor organizations. The following agencies, groups and

individuals should also be consulted:Local Boards and Youth Councils,

Educators, Vocational RehabilitationAgencies, Service providers, Welfareagencies, Faith-based and Communityorganizations and the State EmploymentSecurity Agency.

In addition, describe the role of theState Board and Local Boards inplanning and coordination in theUnified Plan ( 501(c)(3).)

Note: While WIA only requires theinvolvement of State Board and Local Boards

in the planning and coordination of theprograms and activities authorized undertitle I, the intent of the Unified Plan approachis to enable all the relevant parties in an area,if they so choose, to come together morereadily to coordinate their activities in the

best interests of the population to be served.However coordination is achieved, nothingin the Unified Plan or in WIA itself permitsa Board or any other entity to alter the

decisions made by another program granteein accord with that grantees statutes.

(c) Adult Education and FamilyLiteracy:

Governor of the State (anycomments made by the Governor must

be included in the Plan) ( 224(d).)(d) Vocational Rehabilitation: State Rehabilitation Council

(include the response of the designatedState unit to such input andrecommendations).( 101(a)(21)(A)(ii)(III).)

(e) CSBG: Low-income individuals. Community organizations. Religious organizations. Representatives of low-income

individuals.(f) TANF: With respect to the TANF plan

design, local governments and privatesector organizations have beenconsulted regarding the plan and designof welfare services in the State so thatservices are provided in a mannerappropriate to local populations; andhave had at least 45 days to submitcomments on the plan and the design ofsuch services.

D. Needs Assessment

1. Describe the educational and job-training needs of individuals in theoverall State population and of relevantsubgroups of all the programs includedin the Unified Plan.

Many of the programs that may beincluded in a Unified Plan require aneeds assessment. State agencies shouldfulfill these assessment responsibilitiescollaboratively or, at a minimum, createa planning process that promotes thesharing of needs assessment informationamong all agencies involved in

preparing the Unified Plan. Sharing ofassessment data can create a frameworkfor the coordinated and integratedservices that are to be provided throughthe One-Stop delivery system. The Statemay organize the presentation ofassessment data in its Unified Plan in amanner it deems most appropriate anduseful for planning, such as on aprogram-by-program basis, bygeographic region, or by specialpopulation.

In answering the above question, ifyour Unified Plan includes:

(a) WIA Title I and Wagner-Peyser Actand/or Veterans Programs, identify thetypes and availability of workforceinvestment activities currently in theState. ( 112(b)(4)(AD).)

(b) Adult Education and FamilyLiteracy, objectively assess the adulteducation and literacy needs ofindividuals, including an assessment of

those most in need and hardest to serve,including low income students,individuals with disabilities, singleparents, displaced homemakers, andindividuals with multiple barriers toeducational enhancement (includingindividuals with limited Englishproficiency, criminal offenders incorrectional institutions and otherinstitutionalized individuals.)( 224(b)(10) and 225).)

(c) Food Stamp Employment andTraining (E&T), provide an answer andexplain the method used to:

(i) Estimate the number and

characteristics of the expected pool ofwork registrants during the fiscal year;(ii) Estimate the number of work

registrants the State agency intends toexempt from E&T, along with adiscussion of the proposed exemptioncriteria;

(iii) Estimate the number ofplacements into E&T componentsduring the fiscal year;

(iv) Estimate the number of ABAWDs(able-bodied adults without dependents)in the State during the fiscal year;

(v) Estimate the number of ABAWDsin both waived and unwaived area ofthe State during the fiscal year;

(vi) Estimate the average monthlynumber of ABAWDs included in theStates 15 percent exemption allowance,along with a discussion of how the Stateintends to apply the exemption;

(vii) Estimate the number ofqualifying education/training andworkfare opportunities for ABAWDS theState will create during the fiscal year.

(d) Vocational Rehabilitation:(i) Assess the needs of individuals

with disabilities in the State,particularly the vocational rehabilitationneeds of individuals with the mostsignificant disabilities (including their

need for supported employmentservices), individuals with disabilitieswho have been unserved or under-served by the vocational rehabilitationprogram, and individuals withdisabilities served through othercomponents of the statewide workforceinvestment system.( 101(a)(15)(A)(i)(IIII) and 625(b)(2).)

(ii) Include State estimates of thenumber of individuals in the State whoare eligible for services under title I ofthe Rehabilitation Act, the number ofsuch individuals who will receive



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services provided with funds providedunder part B of title I and under part Bof title VI (including, if the designatedState agency uses an order of selection,estimates of the number of individualsto be served under each prioritycategory within the order), and the costsof the services provided (including, ifthe designated State agency uses an

order of selection, the service costs foreach priority category within the order.)( 101(a)(15)(B).)

(iii) Provide an assessment of the needto establish, develop, or improvecommunity rehabilitation programswithin the State. ( 101(a)(15)(A)(ii).)

(e) HUD Employment and TrainingPrograms: (Reminder: the following is asuggestion for incorporating HUDprograms into your States Unified Plan.However, following this guidance willnot trigger funding for HUD programs):

(i) Address the educational andtraining needs of public housing

residents and other families receivinghousing assistance.2. WIA Title I and Wagner Peyser Act:

Economic and Labor Market Analysis( 112(b)(4).): As a foundation for thisstrategic plan and to inform the strategicinvestments and strategies that flowfrom this Plan, provide a detailedanalysis of the States economy, thelabor pool, and the labor market context.Elements of the analysis should includethe following:

a. What is the current makeup of theStates economic base by industry?

b. What industries and occupationsare projected to grow and/or decline in

the short term and over the next decade?c. In what industries and occupations

is there a demand for skilled workersand available jobs, both today andprojected over the next decade? In whatnumbers?

d. What jobs/occupations are mostcritical to the States economy?

e. What are the skill needs for theavailable, critical and projected jobs?

f. What is the current and projecteddemographics of the available labor pool(including the incumbent workforce)

both now and over the next decade?g. Is the State experiencing any in

migration or out migration ofworkers that impact the labor pool?h. Based on an analysis of both the

projected demand for skills and theavailable and projected labor pool, whatskill gaps is the State experiencingtoday and what skill gaps are projectedover the next decade?

i. Based on an analysis of theeconomy and the labor market, whatworkforce development issues has theState identified?

j. What workforce development issueshas the State prioritized as being most

critical to its economic health andgrowth?

E. State and Local Governance

1. What is the organization, structureand role/function of each State and localentity that will govern the activities ofthe Unified Plan?

In answering the above question, if

your Unified Plan includes:(a) Perkins III, describe the proceduresin place to develop the memoranda ofunderstanding outlined in Section121(c) of the Workforce Investment Actof 1998 concerning the provision ofservices only for postsecondary studentsand school dropouts. ( 122(c)(21).)

(b) WIA Title I and Wagner-Peyser Actand/or Veterans Programs:

(i) Organization of State agencies inrelation to the Governor:

1. Provide an organizational chart thatdelineates the relationship to theGovernor of the agencies involved in thepublic workforce investment system,including education and economicdevelopment and the required andoptional One-Stop partner programsmanaged by each agency.

2. In a narrative describe how theagencies involved in the publicworkforce investment system interrelateon workforce and economicdevelopment issues and the respectivelines of authority.

(ii) State Workforce Investment Board:1. Describe the organization and

structure of the State Board. ( 111).):2. Include a description of the process

by which State and Local Boards were

created.3. Identify the organizations or

entities represented on the State Board.If you are using an alternative entitywhich does not contain all the membersrequired under section 111(b)(1),describe how each of the entitiesrequired under this section will beinvolved in planning and implementingthe States workforce investment systemas envisioned in WIA. How is thealternative entity achieving the StatesWIA goals? ( 111(ac), 111(e), and112(b)(1).)

4. Describe the process your State

used to identify your State Boardmembers. How did you select Boardmembers, including businessrepresentatives, who have optimumpolicy-making authority and whorepresent diverse regions of the State asrequired under WIA? Describe how theBoards membership enables you toachieve your vision described above. (20CFR 661.200).)

5. Describe how the Board carries outits functions as required in Section111(d) and 20 CFR 661.205. Includefunctions the Board has assumed that

are in addition to those required.Identify any functions required inSection 111(d) the Board does notperform and explain why.

6. How will the State Board ensurethat the public (including people withdisabilities) has access to Boardmeetings and information regardingState Board activities, including

membership and meeting minutes? (20CFR 661.207).)

7. Identify the circumstances whichconstitute a conflict of interest for anyState or Local Workforce InvestmentBoard member or the entity that s/herepresents, and any matter that wouldprovide a financial benefit to thatmember or his or her immediate family.( 111(f), 112(b)(13), and 117(g).)

8. What resources does the Stateprovide the Board to carry out itsfunctions, i.e., staff, funding, etc.?

(iii) What is the structure/process forthe State agencies and State Board tocollaborate and communicate with eachother and with the local workforceinvestment system ( 112(b)(8)(A).):

1. Describe the steps the State willtake to improve operationalcollaboration of the workforceinvestment activities and other relatedactivities and programs outlined insection 112(b)(8)(A), at both the Stateand local level (e.g., joint activities,memoranda of understanding, plannedmergers, coordinated policies, etc.).How will the State Board and agencieseliminate any existing State-level

barriers to coordination? ( 111(d)(2)and 112(b)(8)(A).)

2. Describe the lines ofcommunication established by theGovernor to ensure open and effectivesharing of information among the Stateagencies responsible for implementingthe vision for the workforce system and

between the State agencies and the StateWorkforce Investment Board.

3. Describe the lines ofcommunication and mechanismsestablished by the Governor to ensuretimely and effective sharing ofinformation between the State agencies/State Board and local workforceinvestment areas and Local Boards.

Include types of regularly issuedguidance and how Federal guidance isdisseminated to Local Boards and One-Stop Career Centers. ( 112(b)(1).)

(iv) Describe any cross-cuttingorganizations or bodies at the State leveldesigned to guide and inform anintegrated vision for serving youth inthe State within the context ofworkforce investment, social services,juvenile justice, and education. Describethe membership of such bodies and thefunctions and responsibilities inestablishing priorities and services for



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youth? How is the State promoting acollaborative cross-agency approach for

both policy development and servicedelivery at the local level for youth?( 112(b)(18)(A).)

(v) Describe major State policies andrequirements that have been establishedto direct and support the developmentof a Statewide workforce investment

system not described elsewhere in thisPlan as outlined below. ( 112(b)(2).)

1. What State policies and systems arein place or planned to support commondata collection and reporting processes,information management, integratedservice delivery, and performancemanagement? ( 111(d)(2) and112(b)(8)(B).)

2. What State policies are in place thatpromote efficient use of administrativeresources such as requiring more co-location and fewer affiliate sites in localOne-Stop systems to eliminateduplicative facility and operationalcosts or to require a singleadministrative structure at the locallevel to support Local Boards and to bethe fiscal agent for WIA funds to avoidduplicative administrative costs thatcould otherwise be used for servicedelivery and training? Include anyspecific administrative cost controls,plans, reductions, and targets forreductions, if the State has establishedthem. ( 111(d)(2) and 112(b)(8)(A).)

3. What State policies are in place topromote universal access andconsistency of service Statewide?( 112(b)(2).)

4. What policies support a demand-

driven approach, as described in Part I.Demand-driven Workforce InvestmentSystem, to workforce developmentsuch as training on the economy andlabor market data for Local Board andOne-Stop Career Center staff?( 112(b)(4) and 112(b)(17)(A)(iv).)

5. What policies are in place to ensurethat the resources available through theFederal and/or State apprenticeshipprograms, the Job Corps and the SeniorCommunity Service EmploymentProgram are fully integrated with theStates One-Stop delivery system?( 112)(b)(17)(A)(iv) and (b)(18)(C).)

(vi) Local Area DesignationsIdentifythe States designated local workforceinvestment areas and the date of themost recent area designation, includingwhether the State is currently re-designating local areas pursuant to theend of the subsequent designationperiod for areas designated in theprevious Unified Plan. ( 112(b)(5).)Include a description of the processused to designate such areas. Describehow the State considered the extent towhich such local areas are consistentwith labor market areas: geographic

areas served by local and intermediateeducation agencies, post-secondaryeducation institutions and areavocational schools; and all other criteriaidentified in section 116(a)(1) inestablishing area boundaries, to assurecoordinated planning. Describe the StateBoards role, including allrecommendations made on local

designation requests pursuant to 116(a)(4). ( 112(b)(5) and 116(a)(1).)Describe the appeals process used bythe State to hear appeals of local areadesignations referred to in 116(a)(5)and 112(b)(15).

(vii) Local Workforce InvestmentBoardsIdentify the criteria the Statehas established to be used by the chiefelected official(s) in the local areas forthe appointment of Local Boardmembers based on the requirements ofsection 117. ( 112(b)(6), 117(b).)

(viii) Identify the circumstanceswhich constitute a conflict of interest

for any State or Local WorkforceInvestment Board member or the entitythat s/he represents, and any matter thatwould provide a financial benefit to thatmember or his or her immediate family.( 111(f), 112(b)(13), and 117(g).)

(ix) Identify the policies andprocedures to be applied by local areasfor determining eligibility of local leveltraining providers, how performanceinformation will be used to determinecontinuing eligibility and the agencyresponsible for carrying out theseactivities. Describe how the Statesolicited recommendations from LocalBoards and training providers and

interested members of the public,including representatives of businessand labor organizations, in thedevelopment of these policies andprocedures.

(x) Individual Training Accounts(ITAs):

1. What policy direction has the Stateprovided for ITAs?

2. Describe innovative trainingstrategies used by the State to fill skillsgaps. Include in the discussion theStates effort to broaden the scope andreach of ITAs through partnerships with

business, education, economic

development, and industry associationsand how business and industryinvolvement is used to drive thisstrategy.

3. Discuss the States plan forcommitting all or part of WIA Title Ifunds to training opportunities in high-growth, high-demand, and economicallyvital occupations.

4. Describe the States policy forlimiting ITAs (e.g., dollar amount orduration).

5. Describe the States current orplanned use of WIA Title I funds for the

provision of training throughapprenticeship.

6. Identify State policies developed inresponse to changes to WIA regulationsthat permit the use of WIA Title Ifinancial assistance to employ or trainparticipants in religious activities whenthe assistance is provided indirectly)such as through an ITA. (Note that the

Department of Labor provides Webaccess to the equal treatment regulationsand other guidance for the workforceinvestment system and faith-based andcommunity organizations at http://www.dol.gov/cfbci/legalguidance.htm).

(xi) Identify the criteria to be used byLocal Boards in awarding grants foryouth activities, including criteria thatthe Governor and Local Boards will useto identify effective and ineffectiveyouth activities and providers of suchactivities. ( 112(b)(18)(B).)

(xii) Describe the competitive andnon-competitive processes that will be

used at the State level to award grantsand contracts for activities under title Iof WIA, including how potential biddersare being made aware of the availabilityof grants and contracts. ( 112(b)(16).)

(c) Vocational Rehabilitation,designate a State agency as the soleState agency to administer the Plan, orto supervise the administration of thePlan by a local agency, in accordancewith section 101(a)(2)(A).( 101(a)(2)(A).)

(d) TANF, describe the objectivecriteria for the delivery of benefits andthe determination of eligibility and forfair and equitable treatment, including

an explanation of how the State willprovide opportunities for recipientswho have been adversely affected to beheard in a State administrative or appealprocess. ( 402(a)(1)(B)(iii).)

F. Funding

1. What criteria will the State use,subject to each programs authorizinglaw, to allocate funds for each of theprograms included in the Unified Plan?Describe how the State will use fundsthe State receives to leverage otherFederal, State, local, and privateresources, in order to maximize the

effectiveness of such resources, and toexpand the participation of business,employees, and individuals in theStatewide workforce investment system.(WIA 112(b)(10).) In answering theabove question, if your Unified Planincludes:

(a) Perkins III:(i) Describe the criteria that you will

use in approving applications byeligible recipients for funds underPerkins III. ( 122(c)(1)(B).)

(ii) Describe how funds receivedthrough the allotment made under



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section 111 will be allocated amongsecondary school vocational andtechnical education, or postsecondaryand adult vocational and technicaleducation, or both, including therationale for such allocation.( 122(c)(4)(A).)

(iii) Describe how funds receivedthrough the allotment made under

section 111 will be allocated amongconsortia which w

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