To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to define the term evidence-based.

To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to define the term evidence-based.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Evidence-based definition.

(a) In general.—Section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(72) EVIDENCE-BASED.—The term ‘evidence-based’, when used with respect to an activity, service, strategy, or intervention, or content of materials, means an activity, service, strategy, or intervention, or content of materials that—

“(A) demonstrates a statistically significant effect on improving participant outcomes or other relevant outcomes based on—

“(i) strong evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-implemented experimental study;

“(ii) moderate evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-implemented quasi-experimental study; or

“(iii) promising evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-implemented correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias; or

“(B) (i) demonstrates a rationale based on high-quality research findings or positive evaluation that such activity, service, strategy, intervention, or content is likely to improve student outcomes or other relevant outcomes; and

“(ii) includes ongoing efforts to examine the effects of such activity, service, strategy, intervention, or content.”.

(b) Description of evidence-Based programs.—Section 102(b)(1) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3112(b)(1)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (C), by inserting “the extent to which such activities are evidence-based,” after “of such activities,”;

(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking “and” at the end;

(3) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and

(4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

“(F) a description of any strategies the State will use to prioritize the funding of evidence-based programs through the funds reserved as described in section 128(a) and available for statewide workforce development activities.”.