1. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
Stakeholder Consultation Series:
WIOA and Registered Apprenticeship

2. Agenda Purpose and Session Flow
Overview of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Provisions Related to Registered Apprenticeship
Discussion Questions
Technical Assistance Tools and Resources
Stakeholder Engagement – Webinar Series Schedule

3. Purpose This series of stakeholder consultation webinars is aimed to:
Gather input from state and local workforce leaders and practitioners, workforce system partners, customers, and other stakeholders on key implementation topics;
Inform development of regulations; and
Inform technical assistance strategies to support implementation.
Please note that ETA is also planning to conduct a series of Town Halls this Fall to gather input from the field, and that you are always welcome to send comments and questions to
Our Federal Partners (ED and HHS) are also collecting input, and we are working closely together on implementing the new legislation.

4. Session Flow The Department of Labor is in a “listening” mode.
Submit your responses and input to the discussion questions through the chat feature.
Responses will be reviewed and analyzed as we are developing draft regulations and planning future guidance issuance and technical assistance.

5. Poll 1 Who is participating in the webinar today?
State Workforce Agency
State Workforce Board
Local Workforce Agency
Local Workforce Board
American Job Center
State Registered Apprenticeship
Business/employer (including Registered Apprenticeship sponsors)
Job Seeker
Other

6. Overview of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
President Barack Obama signed WIOA into law on July 22, 2014.
Passed by Congress with wide bipartisan majority (The Senate voted and the House of Representatives voted 415-6).
Reaffirms ongoing role of American Job Centers.
Promotes program coordination and alignment of key employment, education, and training programs at the Federal, State, local, and regional levels.
Builds on proven practices such as sector strategies, career pathways, regional economic approaches, work-based training.
Complements and supports the President’s Job-Driven Workforce Vision.

7. Programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
Supersedes the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and retains and amends the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, the Wagner-Peyser Act, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Identifies “core programs”:
Adults, Dislocated Workers, and Youth formula programs and Wagner-Peyser employment services administered by the Department of Labor; and
Adult education and literacy programs and Vocational Rehabilitation state grant programs that assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining employment administered by the Department of Education.
Authorizes the Job Corps, YouthBuild, Indian and Native Americans, and Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker programs, and evaluation and research activities conducted by DOL.

8. Highlights of Reforms to the Public Workforce System under the Act
Requires states to strategically align workforce development programs to support job seekers and employers.
Promotes accountability and transparency of programs.
Fosters regional collaboration to meet the needs of regional economies.
Streamlines and strengthens the strategic roles of workforce development boards.
Enhances services provided to job seekers and employers through the American Job Center system.
Improves services to employers and promotes work-based training.

9. Highlights of Reforms to the Public Workforce System under the Act
Provides access to high quality training
Enhances workforce services for the unemployed and other job seekers.
Improves services to individuals with disabilities.
Makes key investments in serving disconnected youth and other vulnerable populations, including Native Americans and Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers.
Increases the performance and quality of the Job Corps program.
Reinforces connections with Registered Apprenticeship.

10. What are your top three priorities for implementation of WIOA?
Discussion Question 1
What are your top three priorities for implementation of WIOA?

11. Provisions Related to Registered Apprenticeship
Integrating RA into workforce planning and policy
Representatives of RA programs on state and local boards
Opportunities to reinforce RA in state plans
Promoting work-based learning and using WIOA resources to support RA
RA programs included on Eligible Training Provider List for Adult and Dislocated Worker programs as long as they remain registered
Employer reimbursement rates increased for OJT and customized training

12. Provisions Related to Registered Apprenticeship
Creating new RA opportunities through focus on services to employers
State and local boards promote the use of industry and sector partnerships
New WIOA performance indicator on the effectiveness of services to employers
Supporting career pathways for youth through RA
Youth program can offer pre-apprenticeship training to prepare youth for RA or other career opportunities
RA recognized as a career pathway for Job Corps students
YouthBuild can offer work experience and skills training in coordination with pre-apprenticeship and RA programs

13. Provisions Related to Registered Apprenticeship
Recognizing RA in WIOA performance measures
Employment Outcomes – RA can “count” for performance measures on entered employment, retention in employment, and median earnings
Credential Attainment – RA completion certificates recognized as post-secondary credential
Skills Gains – New performance measure on the measurable skills gains for participants in a training program

14. Discussion Question 2
What challenges did you experience in integrating RA into public workforce system planning and policy under WIA that can be addressed under WIOA?
Such as challenges related to state plans, board representation, employer engagement, or other WIA provisions.

15. Poll 2
Do you have a RA representative on your state or local workforce board?
Yes No
I don’t know

16. Poll 3
Is RA included as part of the workforce strategy outlined in your WIA State Plan?
Yes No
I don’t know

17. Discussion Question 3 & 4
What concerns related to RA programs being on the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) have you had in the past that can be addressed under WIOA?
What issues need to be considered in order to implement the new WIOA provision that includes RA programs on the ETPL?

18. Poll 4
To what extent has the ETPL been a challenge in the past to partnering with RA?
This has not been a problem at all
This was a challenge, but we were able to include apprenticeship on the ETPL
This has been a significant challenge that we have not been able to overcome
Other (please describe in the web chat)

19. Discussion Question 5 & 6
What questions do you have about changes to the performance measures under WIOA and how RA can “count” towards performance outcomes?
What type of performance measures would incentivize you to work with RA?

20. Poll 5
To what extent did the WIA performance measures create a barrier for you to partner with RA?
On a scale of 1 (no barrier) to 5 (significant barrier)

21. Discussion Question 7
Do you see any challenges in using WIOA funds to support participation in RA?

22. Poll 6
How are you currently using WIA funds to support participation in Registered Apprenticeship?
Paying for classroom training through ITAs
Paying for on-the-job training
Paying for customized training
Providing supportive services while participant is in RA program
Activities related to pre-apprenticeship programs
Activities related to RA in business engagement
Other (please describe in the web chat)
We are not currently using WIA funds related to RA

23. Discussion Question 8
Are there any issues specific to your state or local area that are barriers to better connecting RA with other workforce programs under WIOA, and what would make those connections easier?

24. Is there anything else you want to share with us today?
Discussion Question 9
Is there anything else you want to share with us today?

25. Poll 7
What topics on Registered Apprenticeship do you feel would be most important for ETA to provide additional guidance and technical assistance? [Pick your top 2]
RA representation on workforce boards
Integration of RA into state plans
How RA can help meet WIOA performance outcomes
RA inclusion on Eligible Training Provider List
Using WIOA resources for training to support participation in RA
WIOA provisions related to youth participation in RA/pre- apprenticeship for the Youth, Job Corps, and YouthBuild programs
Other (please describe in the web chat)

26. Technical Assistance Tools and Resources
Department of Labor
WIOA Resource Page (
WIOA Dedicated
Department of Education
Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education’s WIOA Resource Page (
Rehabilitation Services Administration’s WIOA Resource Page ( reauthorization.html)

27. Registered Apprenticeship Provisions in WIOA
RA on Eligible Training Provider List – Section 122(a)(2)(B) and (3) RA as recognized post-secondary credential – Section 101(52) RA on State Workforce Board – Section 101(b)(1)(C)(ii)(II) RA on Local Workforce Board – Section 107(b)(2)(B)(ii) Pre-apprenticeship as Youth program service – Section 129(c)(2)(C)(ii) RA as career pathway for Job Corps – Section 141(1)(A)(ii) and Section 148(a)(2)(B) Pre-apprenticeship/RA for YouthBuild – Section 171(c)(2)(A)(i)

28. Stakeholder Engagement
Information on current and future opportunities to provide input is available at
9/15 -The Indian and Native American Program

29. Upcoming Apprenticeship Webinars September 25th and October 9th
American Apprenticeship Initiative: Advancing Workforce System and Registered Apprenticeship Partnerships
Learn about the American Apprenticeship Initiative and Registered Apprenticeship as part of a Job-Driven, sector-based workforce development strategy.
Understand the Registered Apprenticeship model.
Hear from speakers with successful workforce system/apprenticeship partnerships.
Get strategies/resources for advancing partnerships with Registered Apprenticeship.
Further Information to Be Posted on Workforce3One

30. Registered Apprenticeship Resources
U.S. Department of Labor – Apprenticeship Program Website
American Apprenticeship Grants
21st Century Apprenticeship Community of Practice

31. Find resources for workforce system success at:
Thank You!
Find resources for workforce system success at: