Sec. 270. Evaluations and research
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/bill/113/s/1356/is/section-270A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
For the purpose of improving the management and effectiveness of programs and activities carried out under this title and title I, the Secretary shall provide for the continuing evaluation of the programs and activities, including those programs and activities carried out under this section. Each such evaluation shall address— the general effectiveness of such programs and activities in relation to their cost, including the extent to which the programs and activities— improve the employment competencies of participants in comparison to comparably situated individuals who did not participate in such programs and activities; and to the extent feasible, increase the level of total employment over the level that would have existed in the absence of such programs and activities; the effectiveness of the performance accountability measures relating to such programs and activities; the effectiveness of the structure and mechanisms for delivery of services through such programs and activities, including the coordination and integration of services through such programs and activities; the impact of such programs and activities on the community and participants involved; the impact of such programs and activities on related programs and activities; the extent to which such programs and activities meet the needs of various demographic groups; and such other factors as may be appropriate.
The Secretary may conduct evaluations of other federally funded employment-related programs and activities under other provisions of law. Evaluations conducted under this subsection shall utilize appropriate methodology and research designs, including the use of control groups chosen by scientific random assignment methodologies. The Secretary shall conduct at least 1 multisite control group evaluation under this subsection by the end of fiscal year 2018. The entity carrying out an evaluation described in paragraph
(1)or
(2)shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a draft report and a final report containing the results of the evaluation. Not later than 30 days after the completion of a draft report under paragraph (4), the Secretary shall transmit the draft report to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate. Not later than 60 days after the completion of a final report under such paragraph, the Secretary shall transmit the final report to such committees of the Congress. If an entity that enters into a contract or other arrangement with the Secretary to conduct an evaluation of a program or activity under this subsection requests permission from the Secretary to publish a report resulting from the evaluation, such entity may publish the report unless the Secretary denies the request during the 90-day period beginning on the date the Secretary receives such request. The Secretary shall ensure the coordination of evaluations carried out by States pursuant to section 131(e) with the evaluations carried out under this subsection. After consultation with States, localities, and other interested parties, the Secretary shall, every 2 years, publish in the Federal Register, a plan that describes the research, studies, and multistate project priorities of the Department of Labor concerning employment and training for the 5-year period following the submission of the plan. The plan shall be consistent with the purposes of this title and title I, including the purpose of aligning and coordinating core programs with other one-stop partner programs. Copies of the plan shall be transmitted to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the Department of Education, and other relevant Federal agencies. The plan published under paragraph
(1)shall contain strategies to address national employment and training problems and take into account factors such as— the availability of existing research (as of the date of the publication); the need to ensure results that have interstate validity; the benefits of economies of scale and the efficiency of proposed projects; and the likelihood that the results of the projects will be useful to policymakers and stakeholders in addressing employment and training problems. The Secretary shall, through grants or contracts, carry out research projects that will contribute to the solution of employment and training problems in the United States and that are consistent with the priorities specified in the plan published under subsection (a). The Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Secretary of Education and other relevant Federal agencies, may conduct studies to determine the net impact and best practices of programs, services, and activities carried out under this Act. The Secretary shall prepare and disseminate to the public, including through electronic means, reports containing the results of the studies conducted under clause (i). The Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, may conduct a study examining— the characteristics of eligible youth that result in such youth being significantly disconnected from education and workforce participation; the ways in which such youth could have greater opportunities for education attainment and obtaining employment; and the resources available at the Federal, State, and local levels to assist such youth in obtaining the skills (including skills acquired through workforce preparation activities), credentials, and work experience necessary to become economically self-sufficient. Using funds available to carry out this subsection jointly with funds available to the Secretary of Commerce, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and the Secretary of Education, may conduct a study of the effectiveness of the workforce development system in meeting the needs of business, with particular attention to the needs of small business, including in assisting workers to obtain the skills needed to utilize emerging technologies. The study may examine issues such as— methods for identifying the workforce needs of businesses and how the requirements of small businesses may differ from larger establishments; business satisfaction with the workforce development system, with particular emphasis on the satisfaction of small businesses; the extent to which business is engaged as a collaborative partner in the workforce development system, including— the number and percentage of members of State boards and local boards who are representatives of businesses; and the extent to which State boards, local boards, and one-stop centers established under section 221(e) effectively collaborate with business and industry leaders in developing workforce development strategies, including strategies to identify high-growth employment opportunities; ways in which the workforce development system addresses the changing skill needs of business that result from changes in technology and work processes; promising practices for serving small businesses; the extent and manner in which the workforce development system uses technology to serve business and individual needs, and how uses of technology could enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the system in providing services; and the extent to which various segments of the labor force have access to and utilize technology to locate job openings and apply for jobs, and characteristics of individuals utilizing such technology (such as age, gender, race or ethnicity, industry sector, and occupational group). If the Secretary conducts a study under clause (i), the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report containing the results of the study. Such report shall include any recommendations the Secretary determines are appropriate to include in such report, including ways to enhance the effectiveness of the workforce development system in meeting the needs of business for skilled workers. The Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, may conduct a study examining— the number and percentage of individuals who receive employment and training activities and who enter nontraditional occupations; successful strategies through which State boards and local boards can place and support the retention of individuals in nontraditional employment, such as by providing post-placement assistance to participants in the form of exit interviews, mentoring, networking, and leadership development; and the degree to which recipients of employment and training activities are informed of the possibility of, or directed to begin, training or education needed for entrance into nontraditional occupations. The Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, may conduct studies to determine the feasibility of, and potential means to replicate, measuring the compensation, including the wages, benefits, and other incentives provided by an employer, received by program participants by using data other than or in addition to data available through wage records, for potential use as a performance indicator. The Secretary shall prepare and disseminate to the public, including through electronic means, a report containing the results of any study conducted under this subparagraph. The Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, may conduct studies to assist public housing authorities to provide, to recipients of public housing assistance, job training programs that successfully upgrade job skills and employment in, and access to, jobs with opportunity for advancement and economic self-sufficiency for such recipients. The Secretary shall prepare and disseminate to the public, including through electronic means, a report containing the results of any study conducted under this subparagraph. The Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, may conduct studies that lead to better design and implementation of, in conjunction with employers, local boards or State boards, community colleges or area career and technical education schools, and other organizations, effective evidence-based strategies to provide services to workers who are low-income, low-skilled older individuals that increase the workers’ skills and employment prospects. The Secretary shall prepare and disseminate to the public, including through electronic means, a report containing the results of any study conducted under this subparagraph. The Secretary of Labor, in coordination with other Secretaries, as appropriate, may conduct studies that, through the convening stakeholders from the fields of education, workforce, business, labor, defense, and veterans services, and experts in such fields, develop guidelines for assessing, accounting for, and utilizing the prior learning of individuals, including dislocated workers and veterans, in order to provide the individuals with postsecondary educational credit for such prior learning that leads to the attainment of a recognized postsecondary credential and employment. The Secretary shall prepare and disseminate to the public, including through electronic means, reports containing the results of the studies conducted. The Secretary may, through grants or contracts, carry out multistate projects that require demonstrated expertise that is available at the national level to effectively disseminate best practices and models for implementing employment and training services, address the specialized employment and training needs of particular service populations, or address industry-wide skill shortages, to the extent such projects are consistent with the priorities specified in the plan published under paragraph (1). Grants or contracts awarded under this paragraph shall be designed to obtain information relating to the provision of services under different economic conditions or to various demographic groups in order to provide guidance at the national and State levels about how best to administer specific employment and training services. A grant or contract awarded for carrying out projects under this subsection in an amount that exceeds $100,000 shall be awarded only on a competitive basis, except that a noncompetitive award may be made in the case of a project that is funded jointly with other public or private sector entities that provide a substantial portion of assistance under the grant or contract for the project. A grant or contract shall not be awarded under this subsection to the same organization for more than 3 consecutive years unless such grant or contract is competitively reevaluated within such period. The Secretary shall utilize a peer review process— to review and evaluate all applications for grants in amounts that exceed $500,000 that are submitted under this section; and to review and designate exemplary and promising programs under this section. The Secretary is authorized to use funds provided under this section to carry out peer review activities under this subparagraph. In awarding grants or contracts under this subsection, priority shall be provided to entities with recognized expertise in the methods, techniques, and knowledge of workforce investment activities and shall include appropriate time limits, established by the Secretary, for the duration of such projects. Of the amount made available pursuant to section 232(a)(2)(A) for any program year, the Secretary shall use not more than 10 percent of such amount to carry out demonstration and pilot projects, multiservice projects, and multistate projects relating to the employment and training needs of dislocated workers. Of the requirements of this section, such projects shall be subject only to the provisions relating to review and evaluation of applications under subsection (c)(6)(C). Such projects may include demonstration and pilot projects relating to promoting self-employment, promoting job creation, averting dislocations, assisting dislocated farmers, assisting dislocated fishermen, and promoting public works. Such projects shall be administered by the Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Employment and Training Administration. Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the Green Jobs Act of 2007, the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall establish an energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training program under which the Secretary of Labor shall carry out the activities described in paragraph
(2)to achieve the purposes of this subsection. For purposes of providing assistance and services under the program established under this subsection— target populations of eligible individuals to be given priority for training and other services shall include— workers impacted by national energy and environmental policy; individuals in need of updated training related to the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries; veterans, or past and present members of reserve components of the Armed Forces; unemployed individuals; individuals, including at-risk youth, seeking employment pathways out of poverty and into economic self-sufficiency; and formerly incarcerated, adjudicated, nonviolent offenders; and energy efficiency and renewable energy industries eligible to participate in a program under this subsection include— the energy-efficient building, construction, and retrofits industries; the renewable electric power industry; the energy efficient and advanced drive train vehicle industry; the biofuels industry; the materials use industry; the energy efficiency assessment industry serving the residential, commercial, or industrial sectors; and manufacturers that produce sustainable products using environmentally sustainable processes and materials. Under the program established under paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, where appropriate, shall collect and analyze labor market data to track workforce trends resulting from energy-related initiatives carried out under this subsection. Activities carried out under this subparagraph shall include— tracking and documentation of academic and occupational competencies as well as future skill needs with respect to renewable energy and energy efficiency technology; tracking and documentation of occupational information and workforce training data with respect to renewable energy and energy efficiency technology; collaborating with State agencies, workforce investment boards, industry, organized labor, and community and nonprofit organizations to disseminate information on successful strategies for labor market services and worker training with respect to renewable energy and energy efficiency technology; serving as a clearinghouse for best practices in workforce development, job placement, and collaborative training partnerships; encouraging the establishment of workforce training initiatives with respect to renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies; linking research and development in renewable energy and energy efficiency technology with the development of standards and curricula for current and future jobs; assessing new employment and work practices including career ladder and upgrade training as well as high performance work systems; and providing technical assistance and capacity building to national and State energy partnerships, including industry and labor representatives. Under the program established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall award National Energy Training Partnerships Grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to enable such entities to carry out training that leads to economic self-sufficiency and to develop an energy efficiency and renewable energy industries workforce. Grants shall be awarded under this subparagraph so as to ensure geographic diversity with at least 2 grants awarded to entities located in each of the Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts with no subdistricts, and at least 1 grant awarded to an entity located in each of the subdistricts of the Petroleum Administration for Defense District with subdistricts. To be eligible to receive a grant under clause (i), an entity shall be a nonprofit partnership that— includes the equal participation of industry, including public or private employers, and labor organizations, including joint labor-management training programs, and may include workforce investment boards, community-based organizations, qualified service and conservation corps, educational institutions, small businesses, cooperatives, State and local veterans agencies, and veterans service organizations; and demonstrates— experience in implementing and operating worker skills training and education programs; the ability to identify and involve in training programs carried out under this grant, target populations of individuals who would benefit from training and be actively involved in activities related to energy efficiency and renewable energy industries; and the ability to help individuals achieve economic self-sufficiency. Priority shall be given to partnerships which leverage additional public and private resources to fund training programs, including cash or in-kind matches from participating employers. Under the program established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall award competitive grants to States to enable such States to administer labor market and labor exchange information programs that include the implementation of the activities described in clause (ii), in coordination with the one-stop delivery system. A State shall use amounts awarded under a grant under this subparagraph to provide funding to the State agency that administers the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.) and State unemployment compensation programs to carry out the following activities using State agency merit staff: The identification of job openings in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector. The administration of skill and aptitude testing and assessment for workers. The counseling, career planning, and referral of qualified job seekers to openings and training programs, including energy efficiency and renewable energy training programs. Under the program established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall award competitive grants to States to enable such States to administer renewable energy and energy efficiency workforce development programs that include the implementation of the activities described in clause (ii). A State shall use amounts awarded under a grant under this subparagraph to award competitive grants to eligible State Energy Sector Partnerships to enable such Partnerships to coordinate with existing apprenticeship and labor management training programs and implement training programs that lead to the economic self-sufficiency of trainees. To be eligible to receive a grant under this subparagraph, a State Energy Sector Partnership shall— consist of nonprofit organizations that include equal participation from industry, including public or private nonprofit employers, and labor organizations, including joint labor-management training programs, and may include representatives from local governments, the workforce development system (including one-stop centers), community-based organizations, qualified service and conservation corps, community colleges and other institutions of higher education, small businesses, cooperatives, State and local veterans agencies, and veterans service organizations; demonstrate experience in implementing and operating worker skills training and education programs; and demonstrate the ability to identify and involve in training programs, target populations of workers who would benefit from training and be actively involved in activities related to energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. In awarding grants under this subparagraph, the Secretary shall give priority to States that demonstrate that activities under the grant— meet national energy policies associated with energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases; meet State energy policies associated with energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases; and leverage additional public and private resources to fund training programs, including cash or in-kind matches from participating employers. A grantee under this subparagraph shall coordinate activities carried out under the grant with existing other appropriate training programs, including apprenticeship and labor management training programs and activities (including such activities referenced in paragraph (3)(A)), and implement training programs that lead to the economic self-sufficiency of trainees. Under the program established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall award competitive grants of sufficient size to eligible entities to enable such entities to carry out training that leads to economic self-sufficiency. The Secretary shall give priority to entities that serve individuals in families with income of less than 200 percent of the economic self-sufficiency standard for the local areas where the training is conducted that specifies, as defined by the State, or where such standard is not established, the income needs of families, by family size, the number and ages of children in the family, and sub-State geographical considerations. Grants shall be awarded to ensure geographic diversity. To be eligible to receive a grant under this subparagraph, an entity shall be a partnership that— includes— a State board or local board; community-based nonprofit organizations; educational institutions with expertise in serving low-income adults or youth; public or private employers from the industry sectors described in paragraph (1)(B)(ii); and labor organizations representing workers in such industry sectors; demonstrates a record of successful experience in implementing and operating worker skills training and education programs; coordinates activities, where appropriate, with the workforce development system; and demonstrates the ability to recruit individuals for training and to support such individuals to successful completion in training programs carried out under this grant, targeting populations of workers who are or will be engaged in activities related to energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. In awarding grants under this subparagraph, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that— target programs to benefit low-income workers, unemployed youth and adults, school dropouts, or other underserved sectors of the workforce within areas of high poverty; ensure that supportive services are integrated with education and training, and delivered by organizations with direct access to and experience with targeted populations; leverage additional public and private resources to fund training programs, including cash or in-kind matches from participating employers; involve employers and labor organizations in the determination of relevant skills and competencies and ensure that the certificates or credentials that result from the training are recognized postsecondary credentials; deliver courses at alternative times (such as evening and weekend programs) and locations most convenient and accessible to participants and link adult remedial education with occupational skills training; and demonstrate substantial experience in administering Federal, State, local, municipal, foundation, or private entity grants. A grantee under this subparagraph shall collect and report the following information with respect to the program carried out under the grant: The number of participants. The demographic characteristics of participants, including race, gender, age, parenting status, participation in other Federal programs, education and literacy level at entry, and other characteristics that are significant barriers to employment (such as being an English language learner or having a criminal record, addiction or mental health problem requiring treatment, or intellectual disability). The services received by participants, including training, education, and supportive services. The amount of program spending per participant. Program completion rates. Factors determined as significantly interfering with program participation or completion. The rate of job placement and the rate of employment retention after 1 year. The average wage at placement, including any benefits, and the rate of average wage increase after 1 year. Any post-employment supportive services provided. The Secretary shall assist grantees in the collection of data under this clause by making available, where practicable, low-cost means of tracking the labor market outcomes of participants, and by providing standardized reporting forms, where appropriate. Activities to be carried out under a program authorized by subparagraph (B), (D), or
(E)of paragraph
(2)shall be coordinated with existing systems or providers, as appropriate. Such activities may include— occupational skills training, including curriculum development, on-the-job training, and classroom training; safety and health training; the provision of— adult education and literary activities, English as a second language instruction, or job readiness training; or training leading to the attainment of the recognized equivalent of a secondary school diploma; individual referral and tuition assistance for a community college training program, or any training program leading to an industry-recognized certificate; internship programs in fields related to energy efficiency and renewable energy; customized training in conjunction with an existing apprenticeship program or labor-management partnership; incumbent worker and career ladder training and skill upgrading and retraining; the implementation of transitional jobs strategies; and the provision of supportive services. In addition to the activities authorized under subparagraph (A), activities authorized for programs under subparagraph
(E)of paragraph
(2)may include the provision of outreach, recruitment, career guidance, and career planning services. The provisions of sections 281 and 288 shall apply to all programs carried out with assistance under this subsection. If a labor organization represents a substantial number of workers who are engaged in similar work or training in an area that is the same as the area that is proposed to be funded under this subsection the labor organization shall be provided an opportunity to be consulted and to submit comments in regard to such a proposal. The Secretary shall negotiate and reach agreement with the eligible entities that receive grants and assistance under this subsection on performance accountability measures that will be used to evaluate the performance of the eligible entity in carrying out the activities described in paragraph (2). Such performance accountability measures shall consist of indicators of performance (including the primary indicators of performance described in section 131(b)(2)(A)), and an expected level of performance described in subparagraph
(B)for each indicator of performance. The Secretary shall negotiate and reach agreement with the eligible entity regarding the levels of performance expected to be achieved by the eligible entity on the indicators of performance. Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Green Jobs Act of 2007, the Secretary shall transmit a report to the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, on the training program established under this subsection. The report shall include a description of the entities receiving funding and the activities carried out by such entities. Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of such Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, an assessment of such program and an evaluation of the activities carried out by entities receiving funding from such program. As used in this subsection, the term renewable energy has the meaning given such term in section 203(b)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15852). There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection, $125,000,000 for each fiscal year, of which— not to exceed 20 percent of the amount appropriated in each such fiscal year shall be made available for, and shall be equally divided between, national labor market research and information under paragraph (2)(A) and State labor market information and labor exchange research under paragraph (2)(C), and not more than 2 percent of such amount shall be for the evaluation and report required under paragraph (6); 20 percent shall be dedicated to Pathways Out of Poverty Demonstration Programs under paragraph (2)(E); and the remainder shall be divided equally between National Energy Partnership Training Grants under paragraph (2)(B) and State energy training partnership grants under paragraph (2)(D). In this subsection: The term integrated workforce training means training that integrates occupational skills training with English language acquisition. The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Education. From funds appropriated pursuant to paragraph (11), the Secretary shall establish and implement a national demonstration project that is designed to both analyze and provide data on workforce training programs that integrate English language acquisition and occupational training. In carrying out the demonstration project under this subsection, the Secretary shall make not less than 10 grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to provide the integrated workforce training programs. In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into consideration awarding grants to eligible entities from diverse geographic areas, including rural areas. The Secretary shall award a grant under this subsection for a period of not less than 24 months and not more than 48 months. To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall work in partnership with a local board and shall include as a principal participant 1 or more of the following: An employer or employer association. A nonprofit provider of English language instruction. A provider of occupational or skills training. A community-based organization. An institution of higher education, including a 2-year or 4-year degree-granting institution of higher education, or a postsecondary vocational institution, as defined in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(c)). A labor organization. To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall have proven expertise in— serving individuals who are English language learners, including individuals with lower levels of oral and written English; and providing workforce programs with training and English language instruction. To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Each application submitted under subparagraph
(A)shall— contain information, including capability statements, that demonstrates that the eligible entity has the expertise described in paragraph (4)(B); and include an assurance that the program to be assisted will— establish a generalized adult bilingual workforce training and education model that integrates English language acquisition and occupational training, and incorporates the unique linguistic and cultural factors of the participants; establish a framework by which the employer, employee, and relevant members of the eligible entity can create a career development and training plan that assists both the employer and the employee to meet their long-term needs; ensure that the framework established under subclause
(II)takes into consideration the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the employee with respect to both the current economic conditions of the employer and the future labor market conditions relevant to the local area; and establish identifiable performance accountability measures that include the primary indicators of performance described in section 131(b)(2)(A)(i), so that the progress of the employee and employer and the relative efficacy of the program can be evaluated and best practices identified. The Secretary shall establish criteria for awarding grants under this subsection. Each program that receives funding under this subsection shall— test an individual’s English language proficiency levels to assess oral and literacy gains from entry into the program and throughout program enrollment; combine training specific to a particular occupation or occupational cluster with— English language instruction, such as instruction through an English as a Second Language program or an English for Speakers of Other Languages program; basic skills instruction; and supportive services; effectively integrate public and private sector entities, including the local workforce development system and its functions, to achieve the goals of the program; and provide from private or nonprofit sources a matching amount, in cash or in-kind, to carry out the activities supported by the grant. The program may offer other services as necessary to promote successful participation and completion of the program, including work-based learning, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services. Each program that receives funding under this subsection shall be designed to prepare adults who are English language learners for, and place such adults in, employment in growing industries with identifiable career pathways that lead to economic self-sufficiency. In selecting programs to receive funding under this subsection, the Secretary shall select programs that meet the requirements of 1 or more of the following clauses: A program— that serves unemployed English language learners with significant work experience or substantial education whose previous employment provided persistently low wages; and that aims to prepare such individuals for, and place such individuals in, higher-paying employment defined for purposes of this subparagraph as employment that provides at least 75 percent of the median wage in the local area. A program— that serves English language learners with lower levels of oral and written fluency, who are working at persistently low wages; and that aims to prepare such individuals for, and place such individuals in, higher paying employment through services provided at the worksite, or at a location central to several worksites, during work hours. A program— that serves unemployed English language learners with lower levels of oral and written fluency, who have little or no work experience; and that aims to prepare such individuals for, and place such individuals in, employment through services that include subsidized employment, in addition to the components required under subparagraph (A)(i). In selecting programs to receive funding under this subsection, the Secretary shall select programs with different approaches to integrated workforce training and that are provided in different contexts, in order to— obtain comparative data on multiple approaches to integrated workforce training and English language instruction; ensure programs are tailored to characteristics of individuals with varying skill levels; and assess how different curricula work for English language learner populations. The different types of approaches described in clause
(i)may include— bilingual programs in which the workplace language component and the training are conducted in a combination of an individual’s native language and English; integrated workforce training programs that combine basic skills, language instruction, and job specific skills training; or sequential programs that provide a progression of skills, language, and training to ensure success upon an individual’s completion of the program. Each eligible entity that receives a grant under this subsection shall carry out a continuous evaluation of the program funded under the grant and an evaluation specific to the last phase of the program operations. The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of program impacts of the programs funded under the demonstration project, using an impact study with a random assignment experimental design at each worksite at which such a program is carried out. The Secretary shall collect and analyze the data from the demonstration project under this subsection to determine the effectiveness of the project, including project participants’ gains in language proficiency, acquisition of skills, and job advancement. The Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and make available to the public, a report on the demonstration projects supported under this subsection, including the results of the evaluation. The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to recipients of grants under this subsection throughout the grant period. In this subsection: The term community college means— an institution of higher education, as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 ), that provides a 2-year degree that is acceptable for full credit toward a baccalaureate degree; or a tribally controlled college or university, as defined in section 2 of the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801). The term eligible entity means a partnership between a local board and a community college, a consortium of community colleges, or a consortium composed of a community college and 1 or more institutions of higher education, that is working with— a business or consortium of businesses in the in-demand industry sector, as identified in the application of the entity, or an industry association in the in-demand industry sector; and an economic development entity with expertise relevant to the qualified industry. Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (A)(i), the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001) and the meaning given the term postsecondary vocational institution in section 102(c) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1002(c) ). In addition to the demonstration projects authorized under subsection (c), the Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education, may establish and implement a national demonstration project designed— to develop local innovative solutions to the workforce challenges facing in-demand industry sectors with labor shortages; and to increase employment opportunities for workers by establishing partnerships among education entities, State workforce development systems, and businesses in in-demand industry sectors. In carrying out the national demonstration project authorized under this subsection, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities to carry out activities described in paragraph (6). Grants awarded under this subsection shall be for a period of 2, 3, or 4 years and shall be awarded in accordance with generally applicable Federal requirements. To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including— a description of the entity that will offer training under the grant; a justification of the need for funding under the grant to create a program to carry out the activities described in paragraph (6); an economic analysis of the local labor market to identify— in-demand industry sectors and occupations; the workforce issues faced by such industries; and potential participants in programs funded under this subsection; a description of the in-demand industry sector for which the training will occur, the availability of competencies on which the training will be based, and how the grant will help workers acquire the competencies and skills necessary for employment in the industry; a description of the involvement of the local board and businesses (including small businesses) in the geographic area where the proposed activities under the grant will be implemented; performance accountability measures for the activities funded under the grant that include the primary indicators of performance described in section 131(b)(2)(A)(i), and other appropriate indicators, including indicators relating to the impact of business partners; a description of how the activities funded by the grant will be coordinated with activities provided through the one-stop center in the local area; and a description of the local or private resources that will— support the activities carried out under this subsection; and enable the entity to carry out and expand such activities after the end of the grant. In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall consider— the extent to which the activities to be carried out under the grant and the grant application align with the local plan for the area to be served; the extent of public and private collaboration evidenced in the application, including existing partnerships as of the time of the application among the in-demand industry sectors, the eligible entity, and the public workforce development system; the extent to which the grant will provide job seekers with high-quality training for employment in in-demand occupations; the extent to which the grant will expand the eligible entity and the capacity of the local one-stop center established under section 221(e) to be demand-driven and responsive to local economic needs; the extent to which local businesses commit to hire, retain, or advance individuals who receive training through the grant; and the extent to which the eligible entity commits to make any newly developed products, such as skill standards, assessments, or industry-recognized training curricula, available for dissemination nationally. In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall also consider— the extent to which local or private resources will be made available to support the activities carried out under this subsection, taking into account the resources of the eligible entity and the entity’s partners; and the ability of an eligible entity to continue to carry out and expand such activities after the end of the grant. In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure an equitable distribution of such grants across diverse industries and geographic areas. An eligible entity that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds for all of the following: The development of rigorous training and education programs leading to a recognized postsecondary credential and employment in the in-demand industry sector, including programs that are work-based and incorporate other earn-and-learn strategies. The community college that is a part of the eligible entity shall develop such programs, in collaboration with other partners identified in the application, and if applicable, other representatives of qualified industries. Training adults, incumbent workers, dislocated workers, or out-of-school youth in the skills and competencies needed to obtain or upgrade employment in an in-demand industry sector identified in the eligible entity’s application. An eligible entity that receives a grant under this subsection may use the grant funds for— disseminating information on training available for in-demand occupations in in-demand industry sectors, including training available through the grant through the one-stop delivery system to prospective participants, businesses, business intermediaries, and community-based organizations in the region; referring individuals trained under the grant for employment in in-demand industry sectors; enhancing the integration of community colleges, training and education with businesses, and the one-stop delivery system in the local area to meet the training needs of in-demand industry sectors for new and incumbent workers; providing training and relevant job skills to small business owners or operators to facilitate small business development in in-demand industry sectors; or expanding or creating programs for distance, evening, weekend, modular, or compressed learning opportunities that provide training and relevant job skills for high-growth, in-demand occupations. The Secretary may require that recipients of grants under this subsection provide a non-Federal share, from either cash or in-kind resources (fairly evaluated), of the costs of activities carried out under the grant. The Secretary shall require an eligible entity that receives a grant under this subsection to submit interim and final reports to the Secretary on the performance outcomes for the project, using the performance accountability measures identified in the eligible entity’s grant application. The Secretary shall require that an eligible entity that receives a grant under this subsection participate in an evaluation of activities carried out under this subsection, including an evaluation using the techniques described in subsection (a)(3). The Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, may conduct projects that focus on career advancement for nursing care providers or providers of early education and child care, including faculty education and distance education programs. The Secretary shall prepare and disseminate to the public, including through electronic means, reports containing the results of the projects conducted, and recommendations on how to replicate effective practices.
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