Education and training are drivers of economic mobility and opportunity. CLASP works to strengthen federal and state education and training policy to ensure that low-wage workers, low-income, and individuals can enter and advance in the labor market, and to make sure that American businesses have access to workers with skills they need to compete. Transitional jobs, career exploration, job placement, and access to work supports such as child care also are essential for helping individuals get better jobs, succeed in education and training, and advance along a career pathway.
President's Budget Focuses on Workforce Innovation
By Neil Ridley and Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
The President's FY 2011 budget provides level funding for adult and dislocated worker employment and training under the Workforce Investment Act and adds $108 million in new funding to help create a proposed Workforce Innovation Fund. This new Fund will be used to test and replicate innovative strategies, such as "learn and earn" models that include on-the-job training and apprenticeships, regional and sectoral partnerships and strategies to reach underserved populations.
The budget provides $612 million for state grants for adult education, an increase of $30 million compared to the 2009 appropriation, but a $15.9 million decrease from last year. Last year the program received an increase of $45.9 million-bringing appropriations to $628.2 million-to correct for a past accounting error which had underfunded state programs over several years. The adult education system had hoped the state grants would be funded at the FY 2010 level or above, rather than seeing a decrease at a time of historic demand. Funding from National Leadership activities ($30 million) will help create the Workforce Innovation Fund, which is jointly administered by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor.
The budget also calls for reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act. A key goal for reauthorization is to overhaul the performance accountability system and remove disincentives to serve low-skill adults and others who are most in need of assistance. CLASP has recommended development of a new shared accountability system for Title I and Title II under the Workforce Investment Act and related education and training programs.
Other goals for reauthorization are streamlining service delivery, improving access to one-stop career centers, engaging with employers on a regional or sectoral basis and promoting innovation and replication of best practices. CLASP has issued a series of recommendations for reauthorization. See Recommendations to Refocus WIA Title II on Career and Postsecondary Success and Recommendations for Reauthorization of WIA Title I Adults for more information.
- Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield and Thomas Hilliard | Dec 10, 2009 Recommendations to Refocus WIA Title II on Career and Postsecondary Success
- Ronnie Kauder and Neil Ridley | Sep 18, 2009 Earning and Learning: Options under the Workforce Investment Act
- CLASP | Oct 08, 2009 The Safety Net's Response to the Recession
- Evelyn Ganzglass | Dec 10, 2009 Proposal to Create Career Pathways State Policy Leadership Grants Program
- Jul 24, 2009 CLASP Recommendations for Reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (Title I) Adult Program (Updated)
- CLASP | Jan 25, 2010 Federal Policy Recommendations for 2010
- Evelyn Ganzglass | Dec 10, 2009 Proposal to Create Career Pathways State Policy Leadership Grants Program
- Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield and Thomas Hilliard | Dec 10, 2009 Recommendations to Refocus WIA Title II on Career and Postsecondary Success
- Ronnie Kauder and Neil Ridley | Sep 18, 2009 Earning and Learning: Options under the Workforce Investment Act
- CLASP | Sep 01, 2009 Federal Policy Recommendations for 2009 and Beyond