US departments of Labor, Education issue guidance for State Plans to align education and workforce development systems

WASHINGTON - In a continuing commitment to streamlining the federal workforce and education systems, the U.S. departments of Labor and Education today released guidance to support states in updating their Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act State Plans.

Today's guidance builds on the agencies' collaborative efforts over the past year, including the transition of the WIOA State Plan Portal to Department of Labor, activating Perkins V and Adult Education Basic Grants through the Department of Labor's GrantSolutions and the Payment Management System, and publishing available WIOA waiver and flexibility options to more closely integrate programs.

Under WIOA, state governors are required to submit four-year state plans and strategies for their state's workforce development systems, creating an opportunity for states to align their strategieswith America's Talent Strategy, the Trump Administration's blueprint for transforming the federal government's approach to workforce development. Through this alignment, federal workforce and education investments will meet the talent needs of employers and empower more Americans to access high-wage careers.

"By issuing this unified guidance, not only are we strengthening the historic partnership between our agencies -

simplifying processes for states to better serve individuals seeking personal prosperity - but we are also closing the gap between education and employer needs," said Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Dr. Henry Mack. "Unified and consolidated administration of these federal programs is how we realize the vision of America's Talent Strategy and rapidly bring about the President's reindustrialization agenda."

Acting Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education, Nick Moore, commented, "We are at the precipice of an auspicious time for integrating the public workforce system. The state plan modification process is the ideal time to adopt a combined state plan to include Perkins CTE, integrate the WIOA stakeholder engagement and Perkins CTE Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment modification processes, and to refine processes for identifying regional and statewide high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations and the recognized postsecondary credentials of value aligned to those occupations. Through the OCTAE and ETA partnership, we have aligned the timeline for submitting WIOA and Perkins state plan modifications and recently announced funding opportunities and waiver and innovation options the move states toward aligned talent development systems. I encourage you to lean into these opportunities to prepare your state for meaningful Workforce Pell implementation and for appreciably increasing the postsecondary attainment and labor force participation rates."

"Across the country, State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies are helping over 1 million individuals with disabilities achieve their education and career goals. These agencies rely on a whole host of WIOA and other partners to provide individualized services leading to competitive integrated employment. With this round of state plan modifications, the Departments are not only empowering states to lead this important work by crafting strategic plans that maximize partnerships, but also building systems that will deliver lasting results for those who need it most - including individuals with disabilities, not the bureaucracy," said U.S. Department of Education's Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Kimberly Richey.

The departments are expecting more states to submit Combined State Plans with partner programs, including the Perkins V Career and Technical Education. The original deadline for State Plan modifications was March 3 but has been extended to April 30 to allow flexibility and promote greater alignment.

Read Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 07-25.