[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 13, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40402-40404]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-3693]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Data Collection and Reporting for 
Workforce Investment Act Title 1B Programs

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The 
Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments on 
the revised reporting requirements for the Workforce Investment Act 
(WIA) Management Information and Reporting System. These changes are 
necessary to include data elements necessary for tracking state 
progress against a set of common performance measures beginning July 1, 
2005.

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 12, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Dr. Esther R. Johnson, Administrator, 
Performance and Technology Office, Employment and Training 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Room S-5206, Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-3420 (this is 
not a toll-free number); fax: (202) 693-3490; e-mail: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Karen A. Staha, Performance and 
Technology Office, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room S-5206, 
Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-3420 (this is not a toll-
free number); fax: (202) 693-3490; e-mail: [email protected].
    Copies of the Paperwork Reduction Act Submission Package may be 
obtained directly at the Web site: http://www.doleta.gov/performance/guidance/ombcontrolnumber.cfm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Each state administering a grant under the WIA adult, dislocated 
worker, and youth programs is required to submit quarterly (ETA 9090) 
and annual (ETA 9091) reports containing information related to levels 
of participation and performance outcomes for each program. In 
addition, each state submits a file of individual records on all 
participants who exit the programs, formally called the Workforce 
Investment Act Title I-B Standardized Record Data (WIASRD). These 
participant records are submitted once a year based on a July-to-June 
program period.
    In 2001, under the President's Management Agenda, the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) and other Federal agencies developed a set 
of common performance measures to be applied to certain Federally-
funded employment and training programs with similar strategic goals. 
As part of this initiative, ETA initially issued Training and 
Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 15-03 and has more recently issued 
TEGL 28-04, Common Measures Policy, which rescinded TEGL 15-03 and 
reflected updates to the policy.
    The value of implementing a set of common performance measures is 
the ability to describe in a similar manner the core purposes of the 
workforce system--how many people found jobs; did they keep their jobs; 
and what were their earnings. Multiple sets of performance measures 
have burdened states and grantees as they are required to report 
performance outcomes based on varying definitions and methodologies. By 
minimizing the different reporting and performance requirements, 
implementing a set of common performance measures can facilitate the 
integration of service delivery, reduce barriers to cooperation among 
programs, and enhance the ability to assess the effectiveness and 
impact of the workforce investment system, including the performance of 
the system in serving individuals facing significant barriers to 
employment.
    The common performance measures are an integral part of ETA's 
performance accountability system, and ETA will continue to collect 
from grantees the data on program activities, participants, and 
outcomes that are necessary for program management and to convey full 
and accurate information on the performance of workforce programs to 
policymakers and stakeholders.
    This modification to the WIA Management Information and Reporting 
System identifies a minimum level of information collection that is 
necessary to comply with Equal Opportunity requirements, holds states 
appropriately accountable for the Federal funds they receive, assesses 
progress against the common performance measures, and allows the 
Department to fulfill its oversight and management responsibilities.
    The Employment and Training Administration is proposing similar 
changes to the reporting requirements for labor exchange programs 
funded under the Wagner-Peyser Act and by the Veterans' Employment and 
Training Service and the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. Please 
note that ETA will seek comments regarding changes to the information 
collection for these programs in separate Federal Register notices.
    The WIA performance accountability system, authorized by section 
136 of WIA, establishes a set of performance measures, and states 
report outcomes against these measures on a quarterly and annual basis. 
States establish negotiated levels for each of the

[[Page 40403]]

measures, and these results are used by ETA for various purposes, 
including budget justifications, program reviews, and determination of 
exceeding performance or performance failure. These performance 
measures will continue to comprise the WIA performance accountability 
system.

Adult Performance Measures

    The following three common performance measures apply to the WIA 
adult and dislocated worker programs:
     Entered Employment
     Retention
     Earnings Increase.
    For the WIA adult and dislocated worker programs, the common 
performance measures will be incorporated into the WIA performance 
accountability system by adjusting the methodology for calculating the 
results. (The approach for the WIA youth program is different, and is 
discussed later in this notice.) The ETA proposes to implement changes 
to WIA reporting requirements beginning on July 1, 2005 (Program Year 
2005) to be able to calculate the adult common measures for the WIA 
programs. Specific changes to the definitions include:
     The measurement period for employment retention measure 
will now include both the second and third quarters following the 
quarter of exit.
     States will now be required to calculate and report on 
six-months' pre-to post-program earnings for dislocated workers using 
the same methodology as the current WIA Adult earnings increase 
measure. The outcome will be expressed as a dollar amount, which 
reflects the difference between pre- and post-program earnings.
    Although the definitions for the measures will be the same, states 
will continue to report performance outcomes for the WIA adult and 
dislocated worker programs separately. Additionally, states will 
continue to report outcomes for the credential measure and customer 
satisfaction.

Youth Performance Measures

    The following three common performance measures apply to Youth 
programs:
     Placement in employment or education
     Degree or certificate attainment
     Literacy/numeracy gains measure
    It is important to note that results for the above three measures 
are to be collected in addition to results for the current seven youth 
measures that are part of the WIA performance accountability system.
    In PY 2005, ETA proposes to collect data necessary to calculate the 
placement in employment or education and degree or certificate 
attainment measures. ETA encourages states to collect and report data 
necessary to calculate the literacy/numeracy gains measure in PY 2005. 
States will be required to report the information on literacy/numeracy 
gains beginning in PY 2006. There are no new data elements required in 
order to report on the placement and employment or degree or 
certificate attainment measure.
    In addition, a new data element, youth in foster care, has been 
added, which is consistent with ETA's new strategic vision for the 
delivery of youth services under WIA outlined in TEGL 3-04, ETA's New 
Strategic Vision for the Delivery of Youth Services Under the Workforce 
Investment Act (WIA).

Changes to Reporting Requirements

    Revisions to the WIA reporting requirements are necessary to 
calculate the common performance measures. A few other revisions have 
been proposed to enhance ETA's management and oversight of the 
programs.
    Changes to the WIA Quarterly Report include:
     Aggregate participant and exiter counts for adults who 
access self-service information and for adults who receive training 
services, individuals receiving services through National Emergency 
Grants (NEGs), and in-school and out-of-school youth participants.
     States will no longer be required to report on employer 
and job seeker customer satisfaction on a quarterly basis. This 
information will now be reported only on the WIA Annual Report.
     Additional reporting elements to capture outcomes for the 
youth common performance measures.
     Additional reporting elements to capture performance 
outcomes for participants served through NEGs.
     The reporting methodology for the WIA Quarterly Report now 
captures performance results for the most recent four quarter period; 
rather than only on a Program Year (PY) period (July-to-June).
    Changes to the WIA Annual Progress Report include:
     A new section, Table H.1, to capture outcomes for the 
youth common measures.
     A revised Table M, Participation Levels, to report on 
adults who access self-services only. National Emergency Grant 
participant counts will not be included in the Annual Report.
     Table O includes a new section to capture outcomes for the 
youth common performance measures.
    Changes to the WIASRD include:
     Revisions to definitions and specifications for capturing 
certain participant characteristics, such as equal opportunity data, 
eligible veterans' status, and employment status.
     Expansion of existing data collection on individuals who 
are homeless or offenders to the WIA adult program participants 
receiving intensive and training services.
     Addition of fields in the services section to capture 
receipt of disaster relief assistance, self-services, workforce 
information services, pre-vocational services, dates entered and 
completed training services, and type of training received.
     For youth, addition of a field that tracks whether the 
participant was enrolled in education, which is used to calculate the 
attainment of degree or certificate measure.
     Revisions to existing fields for the state to specify the 
method used to determine the individual's employment status in each of 
the first, second, third and fourth quarters after program exit.
     Change in definition in two fields for dislocated workers 
that tracked wages in the second and third quarters prior to the date 
of dislocation; these fields will now be used to track wages in the 
second and third quarters prior to participation to be able to 
calculate the six months earnings increase measure.
     Change in reporting instructions to indicate that states 
are required to report whether WIA participants were co-enrolled in the 
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) or Wagner-Peyser Act programs.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, the Department is soliciting comments concerning the 
proposed revised information collection request (ICR) for Workforce 
Investment Act title IB programs in order to:
     evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology,

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e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses.
    A copy of the proposed ICR can be obtained by contacting the office 
listed above in the addressee section of this notice.

III. Current Actions

    Type of Review: Revision.
    Agency: Department of Labor, Employment and Training 
Administration.
    Title: Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Management Information and 
Reporting System.
    OMB Number: 1205-0420.
    Affected Public: State, local, or tribal Governments.
    Cite/Reference: Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-220) 
sections 136, 172, 185, and 189.
    Total Respondents: 53 states and territories.
    Frequency: Quarterly and Annual.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours:

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                                                                                 Average annual    Total annual
                Form/activity                         Total respondents         hours/respondent   burden/hours
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WIASRD record...............................  53 states.......................            11,415         604,982
Quarterly summary report....................  53 states.......................               640          33,920
Annual summary report.......................  53 states.......................               400          21,200
Customer satisfaction.......................  53 states.......................               925          49,043
    Total...................................  53 states.......................            13,380         709,145
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    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $1,791,400.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $22,237,916.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the information 
collection request; they will also become a matter of public record.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on July 6, 2005.
Emily Stover DeRocco,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training.
[FR Doc. E5-3693 Filed 7-12-05; 8:45 am]
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