Download New Jersey Workforce Innovation Notice 5-15

New Jersey
Workforce Innovation Notice 5-15
TO:
Workforce Development Board Directors
One-Stop Operators
Employment Service Managers
FROM: John Bicica, Chief,
Office of WIOA Technical Assistance and Capacity Building
DATE: September 25, 2015
Purpose
To re-issue the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Program Eligibility
Determination and Documentation Guidelines and to provide additional guidance on new
eligibility determination requirements under WIOA.
Background
These guidelines are being issued pursuant to the WIO legislation, the proposed rules and related
guidance from the United States Department of Labor (DOL) These guidelines will serve as the
basis for WIOA Youth Eligibility monitoring by the Department of Labor and Workforce
Development.
Please note the following:
Out-of-School Youth (page 2)
There are only two categories of out-of-school youth for which the participant must be determined
low-income:


A recipient of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent who is a low
income individual and is either basic skills deficient or an English language learner
A low-income individual who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an
educational program or to secure or hold employment.
None of the other categories of out-of-school youth need to be determined to be low-income:


A school dropout;
A youth who is within the age of compulsory school attendance, but has not attended school
for at least the most recent complete school year calendar quarter. School year calendar




quarter is based on how a local school district defines its school year quarters; Note: This
is a new eligibility category under WIOA.
An individual who is subject to the juvenile or adult justice system;
A homeless individual (as defined in the Violence Against Women Act a homeless child
or youth as defined in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a runaway, in foster
care or has aged out of the foster care system, a child eligible for assistance under sec. 477
of the Social Security Act), or in an out-of-home placement; Note: The Workforce
Investment Act (WIA) only used the definition of homeless under the McKinney-Vento
Act; The inclusion the definition sunder the Violence Against Women Act is new to WIOA.
See page 5 for the full definition.
An individual who is pregnant or parenting;
An individual with a disability Note: Disability is now a stand-alone category under
WIOA, and is not included with “Requires Additional Assistance” as under WIA.
In-School Youth (page 2-3)
All in-school youth categories require the youth to be determined a low-income individual.
Homeless (Page 5)
The definition of Homeless under WIOA is expanded form WIA to include the definition of
homeless sunder the Violence Against Women Act. Also, the foster care placement criterion in
this category has been expanded to include youth who have aged out of the system.
Co-Enrollment (Page8)
WIOA youth may be co-enrolled in adult programs as well as Title II programs, and services may
be provided concurrently.
Individual Training Accounts (Page 8)
Out-of-school youth ages 18-24 may be served with WIOA youth funds using Individual Training
Accounts. This was allowed through a waiver under WIA but is codified under WIOA, and does
not require entry of information into the Waiver Log in AOSOS.
Exceptions and Limitations (Page 8)
No more than five percent of youth served in a local area may be “covered individuals” who are
not low-income. Covered individuals include all in-school youth and the two categories of out-ofschool youth that require low-income status.
Note: A program must calculate the five percent based on the percent of all youth served by
the program in the local areas’ WIOA youth program in a given program year. [20 CFR
681.250 (c)]
2 No more than five percent of in-school youth may be “an individual who requires additional
assistance to complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment.
Requires Additional Assistance (Page 10)
Until further notification from the State Employment and Training Commission, local workforce
development areas may continue to use their existing local area polices regarding this criterion,
with the clarification that “Lack of/Poor Work History” is not applicable to in-school youth.
Self-Certification Random Sampling Methodology (Page 11)
A random sampling methodology must be used with self-certification.
Selective Service (Page 12)
The Selective Service System has updated their guidelines to address the policy for individuals
who have undergone sex change.
Low-income Individuals (Page 14)
The definition of low-income individuals under WIOA includes the following:


Recipient of Free or Reduced Price Lunch
Resident of High Poverty Area
The documentation requirements for Recipient of Free or Reduced Price Lunch are provided on
page 22. The process for determining residency in a high poverty area is provided on page 25-26.
Common Measures
As a reminder, Common Measures are in effect through Program Year 2015. While all out-ofschool youth must be tested to determine their basic skill level, only the WIOA definitions for outof-school youth are used. Under WIA, the results of a standardized test of basic skills could affect
whether certain youth were determined in-school or our out-of-school; this does not apply under
WIOA.
Action Required
This document is to be distributed to all local area staff, partners and contracted youth service
providers who are involved in the eligibility determination process.
3 Authority
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
State Employment And Training Commission
X
Questions
For questions regarding this guidance, contact John Bicica, Chief, Office of WIOA Technical
Assistance and Capacity Building, at [email protected]
Attachment
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