WIOA State Plan Common Elements

The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity strategy and approach to the implementation of IET programs will align adult education, postsecondary education and training, and workforce development, and result in greater efficiencies and eliminate duplication of services. The Office of Adult Education is partnering with the other core partners, as well as community colleges, career and technical education, K-12, and Michigan College Access Network to advance the development of career pathway programs and leverage the resources of each entity. Once established, these programs will ensure alignment between educational programs and increase the number of learners that access and succeed in postsecondary education and training leading to meaningful credentials. The Martin Luther King Jr. — Cesar Chavez — Rosa Parks Initiative: The initiative was established in 1986, with the goal of increasing the number of Michigan’s most educationally or economically disadvantaged citizens by providing the opportunity to complete college degrees and experience career success as active participants in a knowledge-based global economy. There are six unique King-Chavez-Parks programs designed to assist students along the academic pipeline from seventh grade through graduate work.

• The Michigan Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (Mi GEAR UP) is designed to increase the number of low income students who are prepared to enter into and succeed in post-secondary education. Mi GEAR UP partners with Michigan’s fifteen public universities and external community partners to provide early intervention services and a scholarship component for low-income students. The program serves a cohort of students beginning in the seventh grade and follows them through high school graduation.
• The Select Student Support Services program provides State of Michigan funding on a competitive grant basis, to Michigan’s four-year public and independent colleges and universities to increase graduation rates of admitted academically or economically disadvantaged student.
• The Michigan College/University program provides state funding on a competitive grant basis to Michigan’s four-year public and independent colleges and universities to increase the number of admitted academically or economically disadvantaged students who transfer from community colleges into baccalaureate degree programs at four-year institutions.
• The Morris Hood, Jr. Educator Development program provides state funding on a competitive basis to Michigan public and independent institutions with state-approved teacher education programs. The legislative intent of the Morris Hood Educator Development program is to increase the number of academically or economically disadvantaged students who enroll in, and complete K-12 teacher education programs at the baccalaureate level.
• The Future Faculty Fellowship program provides financial support to admitted academically or economically disadvantaged candidates pursuing faculty teaching careers in post-secondary education.
• The Visiting Professors program provides financial support to Michigan’s public universities to increase the number of traditionally under-represented instructors in the classroom available to serve as role models for students.

Carl D. Perkins: The mission of the Carl D. Perkins Act 2006 is to promote access to, retention in, and completion of individual student goals in quality and comprehensive occupational, postsecondary education. Principal program goals are to improve those postsecondary education programs which lead to academic and occupation skill competencies necessary for individuals to work in a technological and advanced society. Goals are accomplished by engaging employers, providing technical assistance to develop new occupational programs, improve career guidance and counseling activities, upgrade the skills and competencies of occupational education faculty and staff, improve accountability measures, and improve the transition of students between secondary, community colleges, four-year institutions, and the work place. Twenty-eight community colleges, three public universities, and one tribal college receive Perkins funding. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) — Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) and Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) BSBP administers the Randolph-Sheppard Business Enterprise Program; this program provides entrepreneurial opportunities for legally blind VR customers. These blind entrepreneurs manage a wide variety of food-service operations, including cafeterias, coffee shops, vending locations, and highway area vending sites. Through this program, blind individuals receive training and opportunities to become productive, tax-paying citizens and independent business owners.

VR will reserve 15 percent of its federal allotment for the provision of pre-employment transition services for all students with disabilities in need of such services who are eligible or potentially eligible for services. Services may be available the year that the individual reaches age 14. The provision of such services will match categories defined in WIOA Section 113. All services and purchases (i.e. orientation and mobility services, pay for work experience, stipends, on-the-job training, assistive technology services and devices) required to enable an individual to engage in activities defined in the Act will be 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 to age 26 as long as these individuals are eligible for, and receiving, special education or related services under part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and/or when these persons have a disability, for purposes of section 504 of the Act.

VR will explore grants, federal demonstration projects, and other opportunities available to facilitate partnerships with educational entities to provide expanded services to job seekers with disabilities. VR also will review its current partnerships and efforts with WIOA core programs and educational entities to identify duplication of services and efforts. VR intends to identify where efforts can be combined to better support all programs.