(July 3, 2003)

By Nisha Patel and Julie Strawn

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) substantially altered the federally funded system for job training and other employment-related services.  Federal policy for these services is set out in Title I of WIA, which requires that each of nearly 600 local workforce areas develop and administer a one-stop delivery system with a broad array of employment and training services available to job seekers and employers.  In addition, Congress folded into WIA the existing Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), as Title II of the law.  AEFLA, or WIA Title II, is a federal program to assist undereducated or limited English proficient adults or out-of-school youth in improving their skills.  Congress is scheduled to reauthorize both titles by September 30, 2003.  This paper provides a short summary of reauthorization recommendations for both Title I and II and includes a separate document that discusses the rationale for each recommendation.