Purpose
The purpose of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is to provide workforce investment activities that increase the employment, occupational attainment, and retention and earnings of participants, which will improve the quality of the workforce, reduce welfare dependency, and enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the nation’s economy.
WIA youth funds provide economically disadvantaged youth with training and other services to provide them with the skills necessary to obtain unsubsidized employment, complete secondary or post-secondary education, enter the military service, or enroll in a qualified apprenticeship program.
WIA adult funds provide services to all adults, plus specialized training and other services to economically disadvantaged adults facing serious barriers to employment. Dislocated worker funds provide rapid response services to workers affected by plant closures and layoffs, industry retraining, and readjustment services.
The Regional Occupational Centers and Programs & Workforce Development Unit promotes collaboration between education and the workforce development system.
Program/Services
- Implement a state agency partnership between the California Department of Education, the California Workforce Investment Board and the Employment Development Department to collaboratively implement the Governor’s WIA Strategic Plan including the Governor’s policy priorities that are articulated in the Plan.
- In partnership with the California Workforce Investment Board, develop collaborations to serve the neediest of youth, with priority given to out-of-school youth, high school dropouts, runaway and homeless youth, youth in foster care, court involved youth, children of incarcerated parents and migrant youth through California’s workforce investment system.
- Implement a program of leadership to public schools (middle and high schools, Regional Occupational Centers and Programs, alternative education programs, and adult education programs) for the purpose of developing and maintaining productive working relationships with Local Workforce Investment Boards and Youth Councils and increasing the participation of public schools in WIA and its One-Stop Delivery System.
- Conduct policy analysis, planning and regional support for education’s role in workforce development.
- Analyze and track state legislation relating to workforce and economic development as it affects education.
- Assist LEAs to establish and sustain regional coordination between education and the multiple agencies, departments and programs addressing youth issues.
- Work with the One-Stop Career System, the State Youth Council, schools and youth services providers to increase youth access to, and use of, One-Stop Career Centers.
Outcomes
- Improved coordination and delivery of youth services in local areas through funding and technical assistance for collaboration, program design, and operation of programs by local education agencies.
- Enhanced youth services, including career guidance and counseling, job training, and support services as a result of better linkages between local Youth Councils, local schools and other agencies.
- Convened state and regional meetings with education stakeholders to improve education/WIA delivery system for youth.
- Participated in the establishment and on-going work of the Youth Council Institute (YCi) to guide and develop broad youth policy.
- Participation in California’s Performance-Based Accountability (PBA) System to improve programs and services for youth.
- Development of recommendations on proposed legislation that affects the delivery of WIA services to youth.
- Improve understanding by workforce development stakeholders of high school reform efforts and the goals of standards based education, and how they can contribute to workforce development goals.
- Build capacity to support high school reform and collaborate with workforce development partners to improve outcomes for high school students.
Funding
Workforce Investment Act 15% Governor’s Discretionary Funds
Students Served
The Workforce Investment Act serves youth aged 14 to 21. California’s youth population ages 14-21 is over 3.8 million including over 600,000 who are WIA eligible. The following existing California Department of Education programs and efforts are potentially linked to WIA:
- Career Technical Education Standards and Framework
- Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act
- Regional Occupational Centers and Programs (ROCP)
- Adult Education
- Partnership Academies
- Workability Programs
- Apprenticeship
Results
- Support the connection between WIA and Career Technical Education to ensure that youth, particularly “at risk” youth, succeed in their academic and career goals and are prepared for the workplace.
- Participate with the California Workforce Investment Board (CWIB) staff in the development of the Governor’s Strategic Plan required by the WIA.
- Participate in the CWIB special committees to address issues related to education that came out of the Strategic Plan planning process.
- Support local and regional collaborative efforts to develop and maintain productive working relationships between education and Local Workforce Investment Boards and Youth Councils, increasing the participation of Local Education Agencies in the WIA.
- Monitor legislation and work with legislative staff to assure that there is consistency with CDE-WIA goals.
Contact Information
The Workforce Investment Act Program is administered by:
California Department of Education
Career and College Transition Division
Career
Technical Education Leadership and Instructional Support Office
1430 N Street, Suite 4503
Sacramento, CA 95814
