WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT …

1 WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA) combined STATE PLAN for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2024 As Approved by Pennsylvania WORKFORCE development Board February 5, 2020 (Perkins Plan Approved March 18, 2020 by the State Board of Career and Technical Education) Tom Wolf Governor COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR March 30, 2020 The Honorable Eugene Scalia Secretary United states Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, 20210 Dear Secretary Acosta: I am pleased to approve and submit the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania s WORKFORCE INNOVATION and OPPORTUNITY Act (WIOA) combined State Plan, setting forth my vision and goals to build the strongest WORKFORCE in the nation.

2 Pennsylvania s strategic approach to WORKFORCE development is built on a foundation of alignment and collaboration across commonwealth agencies and WORKFORCE development partners. Our combined State Plan emphasizes the importance of advancing proven WORKFORCE development strategies, including developing career pathways, supporting sector strategies, better serving Pennsylvanians with barriers to employment, and reaching specific state goals around credential attainment and expanding pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship. In addition to the requirements of WIOA, Pennsylvania is committed to promoting data-driven and evidence-based policy, enhanced performance management, and INNOVATION across all WORKFORCE development initiatives.

3 It s imperative that Pennsylvania students and workers develop the skills necessary for high-growth, high-demand careers that pay a family-sustaining wage and contribute to Pennsylvania s economic growth. Pennsylvania s combined State Plan is designed to meet this challenge. Pennsylvania s combined State Plan includes the six required core programs Title I Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth; Title II Adult Education and Family Literacy; Title III Wagner-Peyser Act; and Title IV Vocational Rehabilitation as well as the following partner programs.

4 Career and technical education programs authorized under the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers Jobs for Veterans State Grants Senior Community Service Employment Community Services Block Grant Reentry Employment Opportunities I look forward to working with the United states Department of Labor and all partner federal agencies in implementing Pennsylvania s WIOA combined State Plan. Thank you for your consideration.

5 Sincerely, TOM WOLF Governor Table of Contents Section I: WIOA State Plan Type 1 Section II: Strategic Elements 2 Economic WORKFORCE , and WORKFORCE development Activities Analysis 2 State Strategic Vision and Goals 16 State Strategy 30 Section III: Operational Planning Elements 33 State Strategy Implementation 33 State Operating Systems and Policies 52 Section IV: Coordination with combined State Plan Programs 80 Section V: Common Assurances 81 Section VI: Program-Specific Plan Requirements for Core Programs 84 Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Program Activities and Assurances 84 Wagner-Peyser Act Program and Agricultural Outreach Plan (AOP) 117 Adult Education and Family Literacy Program Activities and Assurances 130 Vocational Rehabilitation Program Activities and Assurances 143 Section VII.

6 Program-Specific Requirements for combined State Plan Partner Programs 224 Career and Technical Education 224 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 322 Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers 367 Jobs for Veterans State Grants 367 Senior Community Service Employment 373 Community Services Block Grant 404 Reintegration of Ex-Offenders 410 Page | 1 Section I WIOA STATE PLAN TYPE and EXECUTIVE SUMMARY WIOA State Plan Type: Pennsylvania has chosen to submit a combined State Plan including the following required and optional elements: Required: Title I: Adult Title I: Dislocated Worker Title I: Youth Title III: Wagner-Peyser Act Title II: Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Title IV: Vocational Rehabilitation Programs Optional: Career and technical education programs authorized under the Carl D.

7 Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, as amended by the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) (20 2301 et seq.) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (42 601 et seq.) Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers programs (activities authorized under chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 2271 et seq.)) Jobs for Veterans State Grants program (programs authorized under 38, 4100 et. seq.) Senior Community Service Employment program (programs authorized under title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 3056 et seq.))

8 Community Services Block Grant (Employment and training activities carried out under the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 9901 et seq.)) Reintegration of Ex-Offenders program (programs authorized under section 212 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 17532)) Page | 2 Section II STRATEGIC ELEMENTS The Unified or combined State Plan must include a Strategic Planning Elements section that analyzes the State s current economic environment and identifies the State s overall vision for its WORKFORCE development system.

9 The required elements in this section allow the State to develop data-driven goals for preparing an educated and skilled WORKFORCE and to identify successful strategies for aligning WORKFORCE development programs to support economic growth. Unless otherwise noted, all Strategic Planning Elements apply to combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. Economic, WORKFORCE , and WORKFORCE development Activities Analysis. The Unified or combined State Plan must include an analysis of the economic conditions, economic development strategies, and labor market in which the St ate s WORKFORCE system and programs will operate.

10 Economic and WORKFORCE Analysis. The Unified or combined State Plan must include an analysis of the economic conditions, economic development strategies, and labor market in which the State s WORKFORCE system and programs will operate. Economic Analysis. The Unified or combined State Plan must include an analysis of the economic conditions and trends in the State, including sub-State regions and any specific economic areas identified by the State. This must include The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania s economic future depends on a strong, skilled WORKFORCE able to compete in today s global economy.