2 Year Modification

Kansas PYs 2018-2019 Published

WIOA State Plan Common Elements

Section Published
Located in:
  • 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. E. Partner Engagement with Educational Institutions

Describe how the State’s Strategies will engage the State’s community colleges and area career and technical education schools, as partners in the workforce development system to create a job-driven education and training system. WIOA section 102(b)(2)(B)(iv).

Current Narrative:

KANSASWORKS

The State Workforce Board’s Eligible Training Provider List policy describes the first step WIOA Titles I and III partners will utilize to engage Kansas education and training providers to create a job–driven education and training system. Historically, Workforce Development and VR have had a strong relationship with both Adult Education and postsecondary education institutions, as they are the very entities which provide the skill development opportunities required to meet the needs of Kansas employers. In addition to the projects described earlier, Workforce AID and Senate Bill 155, the state has also supported AO–K, a program providing jobseekers concurrent training in Adult Education and postsecondary credentials. This program relies on functional relationships between workforce services, adult education and postsecondary education to help jobseekers simultaneously gain the skills needed for successful employment and to meet the needs of employers seeking individuals with particular skill sets.

Kansas Board of Regents Adult Education

At the most general level, public higher education in Kansas is engaged in the workforce development system through the commitment of the Board of Regents. One of the Regents’ strategic goals is to improve the alignment of the state’s higher education system with the needs of the economy. A measure of that goal is students’ performance on selected third–party technical program certificates and credential assessments which provide a clear and direct connection between education and the skills that employers want.

Adult Education will be engaged with the state’s community and technical colleges in four ways:

  • Community and technical colleges will be eligible to compete for Adult Education funds. Currently Adult Education directly funds 13 community colleges and two technical colleges, and collaborates with one other community college and two other technical colleges.
  • Adult Education will continue to support postsecondary transition activities with professional development and incentives for learners’ postsecondary readiness and enrollment in postsecondary courses.
  • Two–year colleges and Adult Education programs will continue to offer AO–K, a career pathways program. WIOA requires that career pathways enable an individual to attain a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent and at least one recognized postsecondary credential. In Kansas, AO–K career pathways programs must include concurrent enrollment in Title II–funded instruction and postsecondary CTE, team–taught basic skills and postsecondary CTE courses, supplemental instruction, support services, and transcripted postsecondary credit approved by the Kansas Board of Regents.
  • For out–of–school youth, Adult Education programs offer instruction in foundational and high school equivalency skills, workforce preparation activities, and assistance in transitioning to postsecondary education and training. Youth enrolled in Title II Adult Education programs may participate in the AO–K career pathways program which offers concurrent postsecondary CTE courses and GED® instruction, tuition–free technical courses, and the possibility of TANF scholarships for eligible participants.

Vocational Rehabilitation

The VR program supports customers to pursue postsecondary education at all levels if necessary to achieve their vocational goals. VR assists customers to access comparable benefits, such as PELL Grants, to help pay for higher education before expending VR funds. Agreements between VR and all Kansas institutions of higher education specify cost sharing responsibilities related to the provision of auxiliary aids and services.