References: Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992, Section 401; An Evaluation of Short-Time Compensation Programs, Unemployment Insurance Service Occasional Paper 86-4, 1986. Background: Seventeen State unemployment compensation laws contain provisions for STC programs (also known as work-sharing). The U. S. Department of Labor has contracted to conduct a study that will gather the data and conduct the analyses necessary for the fuller development of the Department's workforce development strategy. It will also provide input to a report to Congress on the implementation of STC as required under Section 401 of the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992. STC is an alternative to employee lay-offs, in which designated employees work shorter hours instead of being laid off. These employees are compensated for their lost work time with partial unemployment benefits. STC programs offer benefits to both employers and employees. For employers, STC can reduce work hours while maintaining the existing workforce and avoiding the costs of hiring and training new employees during economic recovery. For employees, STC protects against the financial burden of job loss, preserves job-specific skills and may assist certain workers experiencing impending permanent dislocation by allowing them to participate in retraining or look for a new position while still employed. The Department has funded a two year, $550,000 study of STC. The study, which began on July 1, will provide a comprehensive program evaluation. Data will be gathered through a survey of State and regional officials to determine the level of interest in the program, administrative practices and associated costs, and why States have or have not chosen to participate. A subset of 4 or 5 States will be requested to provide administrative data on STC and unemployment insurance (UI) claims for a random sample of employers. A survey of these employers will then gather information on why they have chosen to participate or not participate, the extent to which participation has prevented layoffs, and the effect of STC on employment and employee benefits. Action Required: All 53 States are requested to participate in the telephone survey on STC when contacted by staff of the prime contractor, Berkeley Planning Associates of Oakland, California or the sub-contractor Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. of Princeton, New Jersey. This survey will take place in the summer of 1995. In the next few months, 4 or 5 States will be requested to cooperate with the contractors by providing the administrative data needed to draw random samples for the employer surveys. The contractors will be acting as agents of the Department of Labor in receiving and analyzing these data and will be subject to both Federal and State confidentiality requirements. National and/or regional office staff will assist the contractors' in requesting this information.

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Attached is a check list of all active UIPLs as of July 31, 1994.

Background: Skills oriented youths performance standards policies established by the Department beginning in PY 1988 have moved the program toward increased emphasis on attainment of Youth Employment Competencies (YECs) as valued outcomes for youth, and have created a need for high quality YEC programs. The Department recently funded a national evaluation of JTPA YEC programs which was conducted by SRI International, Social Policy Research Associates and Brandeis University. In response to the issues identified by this evaluation, the attached TAG was developed to help Service Delivery Areas (SDAs) identify and overcome barriers encountered in the development of high quality YEC programs. It offers SDAs the opportunity to diagnose their existing approaches and make changes where appropriate. Action Required: JTPA Liaisons should ensure appropriate distribution of this TAG to SDAs.

Reference: TEIN 6-93. Background: This JTPA form is to be used to report expenditures in PY 1994, of PY 1992 Title II-A funds, which the State has opted to use under the regulations published February 22, 1989, for employment, training and/or services funded under the Act for individuals who were participants in Title II-A on or before June 30, 1993. WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES IN THE REQUIRED CONTENT OF THE LINE ITEMS ON THE JSSR FORMAT, LANGUAGE IN THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION OF THIS REPORT HAS BEEN CLARIFIED. (On the JSSR (Rev. June 1994), Lines 13 through 20 in Column (A) and Lines 1 through 20 in Columns (B) and (C) have been shaded and require no entries.) NOTE: Participants and terminations in activities funded with the above monies are to be included on the JQSR, Section VI, for the PY 1994 grant. (These individuals will be commingled with all participants/ terminations in activities funded under the "new rules".) OMB Approval and Reporting Burden: The JSSR requirements have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) according to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, as amended. The JSSR has been extended under OMB Approval Number 1205-0200 and the expiration date is July 31, 1997. Reporting Requirements: The JSSR for PY 1994 will be submitted for the periods ending December 31 and June 30. JSSRs are due in the National and appropriate Regional Offices 45 days after the end of the above reporting periods. (This report format also may be used for submittal of PY 1993 data for the period ended June 30, 1994.) Action Required: State Liaisons are requested to distribute the attached format and instructions to all officials within the State who need such information.

Reference: Training and Employment Information Notice No. 15-91. Background: Recent oversight reviews conducted by the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of procurement and on-the-job training (OJT) systems in the SDAs revealed many instances of inadequate monitoring of service providers operating under contracts. The reviews found that local monitoring to ensure compliance was often not conducted because of a lack of suitable monitoring instruments. At the same time, Congress and other program evaluators, i.e., the Government Accounting Office and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), were voicing concerns about the effectiveness of JTPA. This gave rise to a growing interest in oversight activities that integrated program integrity and quality issues at all levels including SDA service providers who expend the major portion of JTPA funds. In an effort to strengthen SDA monitoring, ETA has developed a TAG including eleven monitoring modules which an SDA may adapt to meet varying oversight needs and organizational configurations. A general introduction to monitoring is provided as well as specific information on how to combine data, form conclusions, and write reports. The modules have been reviewed by several public interest groups, the OIG, and were field tested on-site at 15 SDAs by local program staff. Technical Assistance Guide: The TAG is divided into three volumes: -- Volume I contains the general instructions applicable for all monitoring modules. -- Volume II is comprised of the eleven modules, which are data collection instruments, and includes advice for on-site implementation. -- Volume III provides instructions for preparation for on-site monitoring, interpretation of findings, and report preparation. Flexibility and Application: The modules may be used to monitor relevant areas under JTPA Titles II-A, II-B, and some areas under Title III. Where services are provided in-house, the modules may be used as self-assessment instruments. The use of these materials is entirely voluntary. All modules are flexible in that they are meant to be modified by SDAs to fit particular circumstances and to be responsive to changing Federal, State or local policies. SDAs should be cognizant of changes made by the recently passed amendments to JTPA. Some of the new provisions will necessitate changes to the modules. A diskette containing Volumes I, II, and III is provided along with each TAG to facilitate the modification process. The three volumes are prepared in Wordperfect 5.1. Monitoring Modules: The eleven monitoring modules cover the following topics: -- Occupational Classroom Training; -- Basic Education Classroom Training; -- On-the-Job Training (OJT) Employer; -- OJT Broker; -- Work Experience; -- Financial Accounting and Internal Controls; -- Payroll and Attendance Systems; -- Outreach and Recruitment; -- Participant Assessment and Referral; -- Supportive Services; and -- Job Development and Placement. While the modules are internally comprehensive they do not cover every topic that an SDA should monitor. Consideration should be given by the SDA to developing additional modules as appropriate. Training: In conjunction with planned training on the JTPA amendments, train-the-trainer sessions on using the new SDA Monitoring TAG will be made available to one two-person team from each State between March and May, 1993. Participants in the train-the-trainer sessions should have training backgrounds and experience in monitoring service provider contracts themselves so that they will be able to provide useful training and answer technical questions that may come up as they deliver turnaround sessions for SDA staff. Additional information about the train-the-trainer sessions will be provided at a later date. Distribution and Action: Copies of the three volumes constituting the TAG have been transmitted in bulk under separate cover to the State JTPA Liaisons. A diskette accompanies each TAG. Sufficient quantities are included for State JTPA Liaisons to forward multiple copies to SDAs. A copy should be provided to each State Worker Adjustment Liaison.

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References. None. Background. Funds have been placed on the TAT contract with ACKCO, Inc. to pay for travel for onsite technical assistance visits to 45-60 grantees over the next two years. Grantees with problems, or new directors, may request assistance by calling their DINAP Federal Representatives. The assistance will usually be provided by another grantee JTPA director/specialist who will be reimbursed for travel expenses by ACKCO. The technical assistance providers may be suggested by grantees or DINAP Federal Representatives. Action. Grantees that need onsite assistance should contact their DINAP Federal Representative. Grantee directors/ specialists willing to provide onsite assistance should also contact their DINAP Federal Representative. Questions. Contact your DINAP Federal Representative.

Reference: TEIN No. 5-92, dated August 14, 1992. Background: This supplement provides options for problem solving and provides additional assistance to States and SDAs in understanding and using follow-up data in planning program design, and other management areas. Action Required: States should ensure dissemination of these modules to all staff with responsibilities for follow-up and/or ties with planning, evaluation and other performance management responsibilities.

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