Located in:
- III. Operational Planning Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II(c) above. Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. This section must include—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include a description of the State operating systems and policies that will support the implementation of the State strategy described in section II Strategic Elements. This includes—
- 6. Program Data
- A. Data Alignment and Integration
Describe the plans of the lead State agencies with responsibility for the administration of the core programs, along with the State Board, to align and integrate available workforce and education data systems for the core programs, unemployment insurance programs, and education through postsecondary education, and to the extent possible, the Combined State Plan partner programs included in this plan. The description of the State’s plan for integrating data systems should include the State’s goals for achieving integration and any progress to date.
- A. Data Alignment and Integration
- 6. Program Data
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
III. b. 6. A. iv. Describe the State’s plans to develop and produce the reports required under section 116, performance accountability system. (WIOA section 116(d)(2))
Current Narrative:
(iv) Describe the state’s plans to develop and produce the reports required under section 116, performance accountability system. (WIOA section 116(d)(2)).
Interoperability of Maryland’s WIOA Management Information Systems
Once integrated, the WIOA partners will be able to effectively use the WIOA management system to assess the progress of participants exiting from core programs and completing postsecondary education or entering into or retaining employment. The modernized WIOA management system will provide a common data infrastructure from which ad hoc and automatically generated reports may be produced. Once established, this system will provide the ability to flexibly analyze and visualize data across the WIOA system, either in a consolidated fashion or using system specific data. Analysts will have the ability to quickly explore data through easily customized visualization tools. This allows for a drag and drop type interface, which would eliminate the need for hard coding when generating a new report or changing an existing report.
Until then, in order to collect the participant level data that will be aggregated and displayed in USDOL quarterly reports, Maryland will use a standardized individual record file from the MWE for USDOL program participants, called the WIOA PIRL. The PIRL provides a standardized set of data elements, definitions, and reporting instructions that will be used to describe the characteristics, activities, and outcomes of WIOA participants. Maryland will be able to meet USDOL requirements to collect participant information that corresponds with the data elements and descriptions delineated within the PIRL. Once collected, this information will then be aggregated according to the conditions outlined in the WIOA Data Element Specifications, which detail the common data elements and technical specifications necessary for calculation of reporting elements under all the USDOL programs listed in the paragraph below. Once aggregated, Maryland will submit the outcomes of the PIRL data to USDOL, which will be displayed according to the frameworks within the USDOL Performance Scorecard and the WIOA Pay-for-Performance Scorecard. Each program mentioned in the supporting statement will generate a program specific report that mirrors the construct of the USDOL Performance Scorecard.
Additionally, to meet USDOL requirements, Maryland will certify and submit the USDOL Performance Scorecard to USDOL on a quarterly basis and will submit the Pay-for-Performance report(s) quarterly, when applicable. The accuracy, reliability, and comparability of program reports submitted by Maryland using federal funds are fundamental elements of good public administration, and are necessary tools for maintaining and demonstrating system integrity. The use of a standard set of data elements, definitions, and specifications at all levels of the workforce system helps improve the quality of the performance information that Maryland reports on its WIOA programs. The set of common performance indicators represents the key results that Maryland strives to achieve for their customers, and that the WIOA federal oversight agencies, like USDOL are interested in measuring. Using this set of common indicators affords ETA the ability to describe, in a similar manner, the core purposes of the workforce system – through the program services received, how many people obtained jobs; their earnings; and what skill gains they achieved. They are an integral part of Maryland’s WIOA performance accountability system, and through the Workforce Performance Accountability, Information, and Reporting System, Maryland will continue to collect and report data on program activities, participants, and outcomes that are necessary for program management and to convey complete and accurate information on the performance of workforce programs to policymakers and stakeholders.
Section 116(d)(1) of WIOA mandates that the United States Secretaries of Labor and Education develop a template for performance reports to be used by states, Local Boards, and eligible providers of training services for reporting on outcomes achieved by participants in the WIOA core programs. Required annual data for the core programs include those related to primary performance indicators, participant counts and costs, and barriers to employment. Maryland will work to ensure data are collected and reported in a timely and accurate manner.
The WIOA partners are dedicated to provide their staff with additional training regarding performance reporting to ensure proficiency. Sec. 506(b)(1) of WIOA states that section 116 of WIOA will go into effect at the start of the second full PY after the date WIOA was enacted. WIOA was enacted on July 22, 2014. Therefore, Section 116’s performance accountability system is effective July 1, 2016. Approval of this information collection is required so that the states, grantees, and other entities can begin programming their management information systems in order to allow for collection of the necessary data to implement the data collection and reporting requirements of Section 116 in accordance with the WIOA statute.
Local provider data and performance from the State’s Title II grantees is reported in LACES for Adult Education programming and reported quarterly to OCTAE. An Adult Education Specialist in MD Labor’s DWDAL oversees this effort and works directly with the Manager of Information Systems (MIS) at each Title II site to collect data on a regular basis. Additionally, this MD Labor staff person provides ongoing technical assistance to ensure data is accurately compiled and entered by local providers.
Title IV DORS monitors performance on an ongoing basis. DORS staff have access to AWARE VR standardized performance reports on an ongoing basis through weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports. Performance is monitored regularly to ensure progress toward the achievement of performance goals. Additionally, Alliance Enterprises has been working with DORS and other VR agencies to develop new data reporting elements in accordance with WIOA common performance indicators. As Alliance Enterprises updates AWARE, DORS will ensure that staff are provided necessary training. Also, DORS staff will continue to work with its workforce partners toward implementing WIOA common performance indicators.