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  • III. Operational Planning Elements
    The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that support 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—
    • a. State Strategy Implementation
      The Unified or Combined State Plan must include—
      • 2. Implementation of State Strategy
        Describe how the lead State agency with responsibility for the administration of each core program or a Combined Plan partner program included in this plan will implement the State’s Strategies identified in Section II(c). above. This must include a description of—

III. a. 2. G. Leveraging Resources to Increase Educational Access

Describe how the State’s strategies will enable the State to leverage other Federal, State, and local investments that have enhanced access to workforce development programs at the above institutions, described in section (E).

Current Narrative:

The governor’s vision for increasing access to training and opportunities for individuals is anchored in state statute which requires 50 percent of the formula funds for adults and dislocated workers to be allocated to Individual Training Accounts (ITA). This requirement affirms the governor’s vision that most funds are allocated for direct training related costs. Costs that qualify under the 50 percent rule include all customer service costs associated with the ITA program such as tuition, fees and books and other training services. Florida allows LWDBs to establish ITA limits and durations.

If necessary, local boards may obtain a waiver from the State ITA reserve requirement by submitting an application to CareerSource Florida, Inc. For the state board to consider a waiver from the State ITA reserve requirement and to guide the state board in its review, the requesting local area must submit a waiver application identifying the requested reduction from the statutorily required State ITA reserve, specifying the percentage (between 0 and 50 percent) of Title I funds for Adults and Dislocated Workers that the local area proposes to reserve for the required training services. This request must include supporting data describing how the reserved training funds will be spent for State ITAs and each of the other authorized training services; and how the diverted training funds will be spent for other services.

Documentation must substantiate the lack of demand for each authorized training service; the substantially greater demand for career services and business services, relative to training services; the qualitative and quantitative financial impact that the statutorily required State ITA reserve requirement has on the provision of services for clients seeking or receiving training services; or the exceptional circumstances that warrant granting a waiver.

Factors the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors may consider in deciding to grant an ITA waiver application may include whether the local area is contractually obligated or is seeking participation in a training program funded by a partner, for which the local workforce development board will provide career services; whether the local area is contractually obligated or is seeking participation in a major economic development initiative of regional impact that will result in significant job creation, to the extent the initiative does not interfere with the priority of services to other clients as required by federal law; or whether the local area is entirely contained within a statutorily designated Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern (RACEC).

Local boards requesting a waiver from the state ITA requirement must submit a budget (or proposed budget) showing program components and major breakouts for each program including one-stop services, training providers, supportive services, administrative costs, etc.; a description of how the current and long-term unemployment rate for the local area will be impacted by a waiver, should it be approved; documents identifying the local area’s efforts to increase demand from individuals to meet market needs (to address the talent gap); documentation that the local workforce development board and the chief elected official approved the waiver request; and an agreement that, if the conditions warranting the waiver change, the local area commits to comply with the State ITA reserve requirement and will notify CareerSource Florida of such compliance.

LWDBs are responsible for their respective Targeted Occupations List (TOL) or using the state TOL. Private postsecondary institutions must be licensed with the Commission for Independent Education. All training institutions must report student data to the Florida Education and Training Placement Information Program (FETPIP) maintained by the Florida Department of Education.

VR currently has five Innovation and Expansion pilot projects throughout the state to provide business consultation, pre-employment training, volunteering positions and intensive discovery services to job seekers with unique abilities.

FDBS will allocate 15 percent of its federal allotment to pre-employment transition services for all students with disabilities in need of such services who are eligible or potentially eligible for services through the Division. FDBS has a draft Pre-ETS policy currently under review by WINTAC. The policy states that services will be available the year the individual reaches age 14. The provision of such services matches categories defined in WIOA Section 113. All services and purchases (such as orientation and mobility services, pay for work experience, stipends, On-the Job Training, assistive technology services and devices, etc.,) required to enable an individual to engage in activities defined in the Act are made available as part of the 15 percent state set-aside in the federal funding formula.

Individuals meeting the definition for Pre-Employment Transition Services at the time services are initiated will continue to qualify for such services through age 21, providing the person is eligible for, and receiving, special education or related services under part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and/or when the individual has a disability, for purposes of Section 504 of the Act.