[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 17, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7984-7985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3877]
[[Page 7983]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part V
Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________
Adult Education and Family Literacy Act; Workforce Investment Act of
1998; Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Educational Act of 1998;
Notices of Request for Public Comment
Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 31 / Wednesday, February 17, 1999 /
Notices
[[Page 7984]]
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Adult Education and Family Literacy Act; Workforce Investment Act
of 1998
AGENCY: Office of Vocational and Adult Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice of request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Education invites written comments and
recommendations regarding the implementation of titles I, II, and V of
the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) (Pub. L. 105-220, enacted
August 7, 1998), as they pertain to the Adult Education and Family
Literacy Act.
DATES: Comments received on or before April 5, 1999, will be considered
in the development of guidance and any regulations that may be
necessary, as well as the overall implementation strategy.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Patricia W. McNeil,
Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department
of Education, Room 4090, Mary E. Switzer Building, 400 Maryland Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20202-2645. Comments may be submitted
electronically to dael@inet.ed.gov. You must include the term ``FR
Notice'' in the subject line of your electronic message. The receipt of
comments transmitted electronically will be acknowledged. Commenters
wishing acknowledgment of the receipt of comments transmitted by mail
must submit them by certified mail, return receipt requested.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carroll Towey, (202) 205-9791.
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternate
format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on
request to the contact person listed in the preceding paragraph.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Signed into law on August 7, 1998, the WIA
reforms Federal employment, adult education, and vocational
rehabilitation programs to promote creation of an integrated system of
workforce investment activities for adults and youth.
Adult Education and Family Literacy Act
Adult education is an important part of this new workforce
investment system. Title II of WIA, the Adult Education and Family
Literacy Act (AEFLA), restructures and improves programs previously
authorized by the Adult Education Act. To give States greater
flexibility in administering the program, the several prescriptive
administrative requirements and restrictions on the use of funds are
eliminated. For example, the Adult Education Act, as amended prohibited
States from expending more than 20 percent of the State allocation for
high school equivalency programs, the new law eliminates this
restriction.
AEFLA focuses on strengthening program quality by requiring States
to give priority in awarding funds to local programs that are based on
a solid foundation of research, address the diverse needs of adult
learners, and utilize other effective practices and strategies. Factors
the State must consider in awarding funds include whether the program
provides learning in real life contexts, employs advances in
technology, and is staffed by well-trained instructors, counselors, and
administrators.
To promote continuous program improvement and to ensure optimal
return on the Federal investment, AEFLA also establishes a State
performance accountability system. Under this system, the Secretary and
each State must reach agreement on annual levels of performance for a
number of ``core indicators'' specified in the law:
Demonstrated improvements in literacy skill levels in
reading, writing, and speaking the English language, numeracy, problem
solving, English language acquisition, and other literacy skills.
Placement in, retention in, or completion of postsecondary
education, training, unsubsidized employment or career advancement.
Receipt of a secondary school diploma or its recognized
equivalent.
States also use these ``core indicators'' to evaluate the
performance of local grantees.
Title I of WIA
Title I of WIA authorizes employment training and other workforce
investment activities that are administered at the State and local
levels by workforce investment boards. These services must be provided
through a one-stop delivery system that is established by each local
board. The one-stop system also provides a means of accessing education
and employment-related services available under eleven other Federal
programs, including adult education and literacy programs funded by
AEFLA. Entities that carry out programs authorized by AEFLA will
participate in one-stop systems through memoranda of understanding
negotiated with local workforce investment boards. The services
provided under AEFLA through the one-stop systems must be consistent
with AEFLA requirements.
Title V of WIA
Title V of WIA authorizes States to submit a single ``unified''
plan for two or more of fifteen Federal education and workforce
investment programs. These programs include AEFLA, workforce investment
activities authorized under title I of the WIA, postsecondary
vocational education programs authorized under the Carl D. Perkins
Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-332),
(Perkins III), and, with the prior approval of the State legislature,
secondary vocational education programs authorized under Perkins III
the portion of the unified plan that covers each activity or program
must meet all of the plan or application requirements specified in the
original authorizing statute for that particular activity or program.
Title V also authorizes the award of incentive grants to States that
exceed agreed-upon performance levels for title I of WIA, AEFLA, and
Perkins III.
Copies of the WIA are available on the website of the Office of
Vocational and Adult Education at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE/
AdultEd/InfoBoard/legis.html. The text of the Conference Report on H.R.
1385 (the WIA) can also be found in the Congressional Record, July 29,
1998, pp. H6604-H6694.
Issues for Public Comment
The Secretary invites written comments and recommendations from
interested members of the public regarding the implementation of AEFLA
and the provisions of titles I and V of WIA that relate to AEFLA.
The Secretary is particularly interested in receiving comments and
recommendations concerning the following topics:
1. How best to implement the performance accountability system
described in section 212, including--
(A) Definitions for the core indicators of performance; and
(B) The establishment, revision, and reporting of eligible agency
adjusted levels of performance for Fiscal Year 1999 and subsequent
fiscal years.
2. The award of incentive grants to States that exceed the State
adjusted levels of performance for title I workforce investment
activities, AEFLA, and Perkins III (section 503 of WIA).
[[Page 7985]]
3. Procedures for the development and submission of State unified
plans (section 501 of WIA).
4. The participation of entities receiving assistance under AEFLA
in the planning, governance, operation, and funding of the one-stop
delivery system described in title I of WIA.
Comments and recommendations are also welcome on other issues and
concerns that should be addressed or clarified through guidance or
regulations.
Under its Principles for Regulating, the Department of Education
will regulate only when it improves the quality and equality of
services to its customers--learners of all ages. The Department will
regulate only when absolutely necessary, and then in the most flexible,
most equitable, and least burdensome way possible. The Department will
regulate if a demonstrated problem exists and cannot be resolved
without regulation or if necessary to provide legally binding
interpretation to resolve an ambiguity. The Department will not
regulate if entities or situations to be regulated are so diverse that
a uniform approach does more harm than good.
Electronic Access to This Document
Anyone may view this document, as well as other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or
portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the
following sites:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html
To use the pdf, you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with
Search, which is available free at the previous sites. If you have
questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government Printing Office
toll free at 1-888-293-6498.
Anyone also may view these documents in text copy only on an
electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511
or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option
G-Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases.
Additionally, in the future, this document, as well as other
documents concerning the implementation of AEFLA will be available on
the World Wide Web at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/offices/
OVAE/AdultEd/InfoBoard/legis.html.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register.
Dated: February 11, 1999.
Richard W. Riley,
Secretary of Education.
[FR Doc. 99-3877 Filed 2-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U
