DIRECTIVE	:	TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 25-98
TO	:	ALL STATE JTPA LIAISONS ALL STATE WAGNER-PEYSER ADMINISTERING AGENCIES ALL STATE WORKER ADJUSTMENT LIAISONS ALL ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER SYSTEM LEADS
FROM	:	DAVID HENSON Director Office of Regional Management
SUBJECT	:	Guide to Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA)Performance Standards for Program Years 1998 and 1999

1. Purpose. To transmit a Guide developed to assist in the administration of JTPA performance standards for Program Years (PYs) 1998 and 1999. This Guide supersedes the "Guide to JTPA Performance Standards for Program Years 1996 and 1997".

2. References. 

   1. Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 12-97 (June 30, 1998);

   2. TEGL 12-97, Change 1 (July 7, 1998);

   3. TEGL 12-97, Change 2 (August 5, 1998);

   4. TEGL 12-97, Change 3 (September 17, 1998);

   5. Training and Employment Information Notice (TEIN) No. 11-98 (September 28, 1998);

   6. TEGL 12-97, Change 4 (October 16, 1998);

   7. TEGL 12-97, Change 5 (March 30, 1999); and

   8. TEIN 15-98 (January 14, 1999)

3. Background. The attached Guide is a comprehensive source for PY 1998-1999 performance standards policy (including incentives and sanctions) that incorporates the policy issuances referenced above. The Guide includes the following: an overview of DOL performance standards policy for PYs 1998 and 1999; a discussion of the computation of performance measures; a discussion of how performance standards are adjusted for local conditions (includes worksheets and instructions for the optional DOL models); a discussion of incentives policies; a discussion of sanction policies; and a new chapter on pilot adult post-program performance measures based on wage records. This Guide will remain in effect until July 1, 2000, when the Workforce Investment Act takes full effect and JTPA expires.

4. Changes from Previous Version. With reference to previous versions of the Guide, the following are the major changes in the current version:

   • a discussion of the relationship between JTPA performance standards and performance improvement goals developed for the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA);

   • guidance for the adoption of optional new measures to substitute for the required core measures, including new pilot wage record-based adult post-program performance measures;

   • updated numerical levels for required performance standards and for the optional measures;

   • orientation to three new optional Title III measures for possible future use as performance standards;

   • redefinition of all Title III measures to consistently exclude terminees who were called back or remained with their layoff employers;

   • overall failure to meet standards under Title II is redefined as failing half or more of the Secretary's core standards;

   • discussion of incentive and sanction policies that differentiate clearly between minimally acceptable performance needed to avoid sanctions and performance worthy of reward, including incentive policy criteria that reward sustained high performance, improved performance and performance innovation; and

   • updates to incorporate the revised Standardized Program Information Reporting (SPIR) instructions for PYs 1998 and 1999 have been included throughout the Guide.

5. Inquiries. Questions concerning this issuance may be directed to Valerie Lloyd at 202-219-5487 extension 107. Additional information can be found on the Web site:

   http://www.ttrc.doleta.gov/ETA/research/performance

6. Attachment. Guide to JTPA Performance Standards for Program Years 1998 and 1999

NOTE: Attachment not available to DMS