WIOA State Plan Common Elements

(A) Core Program Activities to Implement the State’s Strategies:

For Titles IB and III the state workforce agency will fund outreach, employment assistance, case management, and staff supervision through state merit staff funded through Wagner-Peyser labor exchange and career services; Reemployment Assistance programs; Veteran’s Employment and Training programs, including those for Disabled Veterans; Registered Apprenticeship; Agricultural Outreach; Work Opportunity Tax Credit; Trade Act and Foreign Labor Wage Certification programs through formula and dedicated funds. SCSEP services are provided through a sub-grant agreement with the Wichita Area Workforce Development Board. Monitoring, information management, staff training, technical assistance and KWSB support will be provided with the state portion of WIOA funds and other employment and training formula funds. All of these activities will move Kansas toward the strategic goals described in the Section II of this plan. These activities will be aligned across the Core Programs and combined state plan partners as described in the Customer Flow section of the State plan, and through avenues defined during the first two years of the implementation of this State plan, such as cross-training, referrals, co-enrollment and coordinating resources as agreed in eventual Memoranda of Understanding.

For Title II, Kansas Board of Regents will fund Adult Education and Literacy activities including instruction and support services as described below.

Adult Education and Literacy

Adult Education and Literacy Activities will include instruction in reading, writing, numeracy, and problem-solving at Educational Functioning Levels appropriate to learners.

Workplace Adult Education and Literacy

The content of Workplace Adult Education and Literacy Activities will include contextualized literacy, English language acquisition, and workforce preparation at Educational Functioning Levels appropriate to learners as negotiated between the Adult Education provider and the employer or employee organization partners.

Family Literacy Activities

To receive Kansas Adult Education performance-based funding for family literacy outcomes, local programs must offer basic academic skills as well as interactive literacy activities between parents or family members and their children, training for parents or family members about their roles as the primary teachers of their children and full partners in the education of their children, and age-appropriate education to prepare children for success.

English Language Acquisition Activities

English Language Acquisition Activities will include instruction in reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in the English language at appropriate Educational Functioning Levels. The purposes of instruction will include attainment of the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma, transition to postsecondary education and training, or employment.

Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education Activities

Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education Activities will include instruction in language skills needed to function effectively as parents, workers, and citizens in the United States. Instruction delivered at Educational Functioning Levels appropriate to learners will include the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and civic participation and may include workforce training.

Workforce Preparation Activities

Workforce Preparation Activities will include basic academic skills, critical thinking skills, digital literacy skills, and self-management skills at Educational Functioning Levels appropriate to their learners. Self-management will include competencies in utilizing resources, using information, working with others, understanding systems, and obtaining skills necessary for successful transition into and completion of postsecondary education or training, or employment.

Integrated Education and Training Activities

Integrated Education and Training Activities will include instruction in basic academic skills and/or English language acquisition skills, workforce preparation activities, and workforce training contextualized for specific occupations or occupational clusters. Instruction will be offered at Educational Functioning Levels appropriate to learners. The purpose of instruction will be educational and career advancement.

Overall Delivery of Adult Education Activities

All activities will meet the state requirements for managed enrollment and the Kansas Proficiency Attainment Model: pre-enrollment, orientation, assessment, instructional planning, instruction, test-taking, and transition. Instruction for learners who enroll in pathways available in the Accelerating Opportunity: Kansas (AO-K) model will include co-enrollment in postsecondary career technical education courses team-taught by basic skills and career technical instructors. Some programs will provide expanded transition services including career navigators and college success classes.

Title IV Vocational Rehabilitation

In support of a strong workforce system that vigorously represents the employment needs of individuals with disabilities and other customers with significant barriers to employment, VR will provide services to eligible customers consistent with the Rehabilitation Act, implementing regulations for Title IV of WIOA, and state policies.

To help Kansas citizens with disabilities meet their employment goals, a comprehensive array of VR services are available. Services are customized according to each person’s unique needs, skills, interests, abilities, and vocational goal. Services to be provided for each individual customer are specified on an Individual Plan for Employment, and may include:

• Vocational assessment to help a customer identify his or her skills, abilities, interests and job goals.
• Vocational counseling and guidance.
• Physical and mental restoration services, including artificial limbs, psychotherapy, and physical therapy.
• Training and education to learn new vocational skills.
• Rehabilitation technology, telecommunication aids and other adaptive devices.
• Job preparation and placement services.
• Job coaching.
• On-the-job training.
• Services to help students with disabilities get a job after finishing high school.
• Supported and customized employment for individuals who need intensive on-the-job training and ongoing support.
• Referral to other services.

VR works with people with all types of physical or mental disabilities. To receive VR services, a customer must meet all three parts of the following federal eligibility requirements:

1. The customer must have a physical or mental impairment or disability; and
2. The disability must result in a substantial impediment to employment; and
3. The customer must require VR services to prepare for, secure, retain or regain employment.

The assessment services needed to determine if an individual is eligible, vocational counseling, guidance, referral, job placement, supported employment/customized employment and job coaching will be provided at no cost. VR payment for most other services will depend on whether the customer meets financial need guidelines. If comparable services or benefits are provided or paid for, in whole or part, by other federal, state or local public agencies, by health insurance, or by employee benefits, and if they are available at the time the VR customer needs them to ensure progress toward employment, then those comparable services must be used first before the expenditure of VR funds.

In addition to the specific activities funded by each Core Partner, all partners will align services through:

• Representation on the state and local boards.
• Interoperable data systems that allow computer systems to work together. (An interoperable data system for the core programs and other programs to ensure accurate and standardized collection of program and participant information.)
• Collaborative case management and co-enrollment when needed by the customer.(Co-enrollment occurs when customers are actively participating in services from more than one system partner. Partners will make referrals to initiate co-enrollment if/when the customer could benefit from the services of another partner program, if the customer agrees, and/or if the customer so requests. Referrals will be made on an individual consumer-by-consumer basis, and not as a blanket referral throughout the workforce system.)
• Collaboration with other Core Partners on targeted outreach activities.
• Enhanced consumer referrals among Core Partners.
• Participation in evaluation and continuous improvement strategies.
• Specific strategies to strengthen communications among Core Partners.

Collaboration among Core Partners for business outreach activities.