December 6, 2019

Dear Colleagues,

This message shares information on WIOA State Plan due dates, a request for states to designate the formal plan submitter, and a reminder of where the plan requirements are posted.

To encourage implementation and integration of workforce development services, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires States to submit a four-year Unified or Combined State Plan that covers, at a minimum, the six core programs of the workforce development system. In order to satisfy the submission requirements of sections 102(c)(1)(B) and 103(b)(1) of WIOA for these State Plans, each State’s Governor must submit a Unified or Combined State Plan for the four-year period covering PYs 2020-2023 by March 2, 2020. The Unified or Combined State Plan covering the six core programs of the workforce development system will be considered approved 90 days after the date the Plan is submitted, unless the Secretaries of Labor and Education inform the State in writing within that time period that the Plan is inconsistent with the State Plan requirements or the provisions authorizing the core programs, as appropriate (sections 102(c)(2)(B) and 103(c)(3)(A) of WIOA).

For those States submitting Unified or Combined State Plans for the core programs after April 1, 2020, the Secretaries of Labor and Education, as well as the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, will do their best to approve the Unified or Combined State Plans prior to July 1, 2020, which is the start of PY 2020. However, because Plans submitted after April 1, 2020 will not give the Secretaries the full 90 days allowed by law to review and approve the Plans, the awarding of funds for those States could be delayed.

Section 103(a)(1) of WIOA permits States to submit a Combined State Plan that includes the six core programs and one or more programs identified in section 103(a)(2). At least two of those partner programs — the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, as amended by the Strengthening Career and Technical Education Act for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) — were recently reauthorized. The Departments encourage the inclusion of Perkins V and SNAP E&T in strategic planning and are available to provide technical assistance on plan submission and timing to ease inclusion. Under these circumstances, States must contact the appropriate ETA Regional Office and federal program contact in writing to discuss the timing of state submission and the potential funding implications for plans that may not be approved until after the commencement of PY 2020.

Request - Each Governor must designate a primary official to serve as the final submitter on behalf of all included programs for the State Plan. Please notify the Departments of such designation via correspondence in an email to WIOA.Plan@dol.gov.

The WIOA State Plan information collection request (ICR, approved under OMB no. 1205-0522) is available at https://doleta.gov/wioa/resources/. The ICR details the requirements states must address in its WIOA Unified or Combined State Plans.

In the near future, the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education will provide more information related to the new WIOA State Plan Portal, including dates for when user training will be offered and when the Portal will be available.

Sincerely,

John Pallasch
Assistant Secretary
Employment and Training Administration
U.S. Department of Labor

Scott Stump
Assistant Secretary
Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education
U.S. Department of Education

Mark Schultz
Delegated the authority to perform
the functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for the
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
U.S. Department of Education