29 USC 3164 - Use of funds for youth workforce investment activities

View all text of Subpart 2 [§ 3161 - § 3164]

§ 3164. Use of funds for youth workforce investment activities

(a) Youth participant eligibility

(1) Eligibility

(A) In general

(B) Out-of-school youthIn this subchapter, the term “out-of-school youth” means an individual who is—

(i) not attending any school (as defined under State law);

(ii) not younger than age 16 or older than age 24; and

(iii) one or more of the following:(I) A school dropout.(II) A youth who is within the age of compulsory school attendance, but has not attended school for at least the most recent complete school year calendar quarter.(III) A recipient of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent who is a low-income individual and is—(aa) basic skills deficient; or(bb) an English language learner.(IV) An individual who is subject to the juvenile or adult justice system.(V) A homeless individual (as defined in section 12473(6) of title 34), a homeless child or youth (as defined in section 11434a(2) of title 42), a runaway, in foster care or has 1

1 So in original. Probably should be preceded by “who”.

aged out of the foster care system, a child eligible for assistance under section 677 of title 42, or in an out-of-home placement.(VI) An individual who is pregnant or parenting.(VII) A youth who is an individual with a disability.(VIII) A low-income individual who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment.

(i) attending school (as defined by State law);

(ii) not younger than age 14 or (unless an individual with a disability who is attending school under State law) older than age 21;

(iii) a low-income individual; and

(iv) one or more of the following:(I) Basic skills deficient.(II) An English language learner.(III) An offender.(IV) A homeless individual (as defined in section 12473(6) of title 34), a homeless child or youth (as defined in section 11434a(2) of title 42), a runaway, in foster care or has 1 aged out of the foster care system, a child eligible for assistance under section 677 of title 42, or in an out-of-home placement.(V) Pregnant or parenting.(VI) A youth who is an individual with a disability.(VII) An individual who requires additional assistance to complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment.

(2) Special rule

(3) Exception and limitation

(A) Exception for persons who are not low-income individuals

(i) Definition

(ii) Exception

(B) Limitation

(4) Out-of-school priority

(A) In general

(B) ExceptionA State that receives a minimum allotment under section 3162(b)(1) of this title in accordance with section 3162(b)(1)(C)(iv) of this title or under section 3172(b)(1) of this title in accordance with section 3172(b)(1)(B)(iv) of this title may decrease the percentage described in subparagraph (A) to not less than 50 percent for a local area in the State, if—

(i) after an analysis of the in-school youth and out-of-school youth populations in the local area, the State determines that the local area will be unable to use at least 75 percent of the funds available for activities under subsection (c) to serve out-of-school youth due to a low number of out-of-school youth; and

(ii)(I) the State submits to the Secretary, for the local area, a request including a proposed percentage decreased to not less than 50 percent for purposes of subparagraph (A), and a summary of the analysis described in clause (i); and(II) the request is approved by the Secretary.

(5) Consistency with compulsory school attendance laws

(b) Statewide activities

(1) Required statewide youth activitiesFunds reserved by a Governor as described in sections 3163(a) and 3173(a)(1) of this title shall be used, regardless of whether the funds were allotted to the State under section 3162(b)(1)(C) of this title or under paragraph (1)(B) or (2)(B) of section 3172(b) of this title for statewide activities, which shall include—

(A) conducting evaluations under section 3141(e) of this title of activities authorized under this subpart and subpart 3 in coordination with evaluations carried out by the Secretary under section 3224(a) of this title;

(B) disseminating a list of eligible providers of youth workforce investment activities, as determined under section 3153 of this title;

(C) providing assistance to local areas as described in subsections (b)(7) and (c)(2) of section 3121 of this title, for local coordination of activities carried out under this subchapter;

(D) operating a fiscal and management accountability information system under section 3141(i) of this title;

(E) carrying out monitoring and oversight of activities carried out under this subpart and subpart 3, which may include a review comparing the services provided to male and female youth; and

(F) providing additional assistance to local areas that have high concentrations of eligible youth.

(2) Allowable statewide youth activitiesFunds reserved by a Governor as described in sections 3163(a) and 3173(a)(1) of this title may be used, regardless of whether the funds were allotted to the State under section 3162(b)(1)(C) of this title or under paragraph (1)(B) or (2)(B) of section 3172(b) of this title, for statewide activities, which may include—

(A) conducting—

(i) research related to meeting the education and employment needs of eligible youth; and

(ii) demonstration projects related to meeting the education and employment needs of eligible youth;

(B) supporting the development of alternative, evidence-based programs and other activities that enhance the choices available to eligible youth and encourage such youth to reenter and complete secondary education, enroll in postsecondary education and advanced training, progress through a career pathway, and enter into unsubsidized employment that leads to economic self-sufficiency;

(C) supporting the provision of career services described in section 3174(c)(2) of this title in the one-stop delivery system in the State;

(D) supporting financial literacy, including—

(i) supporting the ability of participants to create household budgets, initiate savings plans, and make informed financial decisions about education, retirement, home ownership, wealth building, or other savings goals;

(ii) supporting the ability to manage spending, credit, and debt, including credit card debt, effectively;

(iii) increasing awareness of the availability and significance of credit reports and credit scores in obtaining credit, including determining their accuracy (and how to correct inaccuracies in the reports and scores), and their effect on credit terms;

(iv) supporting the ability to understand, evaluate, and compare financial products, services, and opportunities; and

(v) supporting activities that address the particular financial literacy needs of non-English speakers, including providing the support through the development and distribution of multilingual financial literacy and education materials; and

(E) providing technical assistance to, as appropriate, local boards, chief elected officials, one-stop operators, one-stop partners, and eligible providers, in local areas, which provision of technical assistance shall include the development and training of staff, the development of exemplary program activities, the provision of technical assistance to local areas that fail to meet local performance accountability measures described in section 3141(c) of this title, and the provision of technology to facilitate remote access to services provided through the one-stop delivery system in the State.

(3) Limitation

(1) Program designFunds allocated to a local area for eligible youth under section 3163(b) of this title shall be used to carry out, for eligible youth, programs that—

(A) provide an objective assessment of the academic levels, skill levels, and service needs of each participant, which assessment shall include a review of basic skills, occupational skills, prior work experience, employability, interests, aptitudes (including interests and aptitudes for nontraditional jobs), supportive service needs, and developmental needs of such participant, for the purpose of identifying appropriate services and career pathways for participants, except that a new assessment of a participant is not required if the provider carrying out such a program determines it is appropriate to use a recent assessment of the participant conducted pursuant to another education or training program;

(B) develop service strategies for each participant that are directly linked to 1 or more of the indicators of performance described in section 3141(b)(2)(A)(ii) of this title, and that shall identify career pathways that include education and employment goals (including, in appropriate circumstances, nontraditional employment), appropriate achievement objectives, and appropriate services for the participant taking into account the assessment conducted pursuant to subparagraph (A), except that a new service strategy for a participant is not required if the provider carrying out such a program determines it is appropriate to use a recent service strategy developed for the participant under another education or training program;

(i) activities leading to the attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, or a recognized postsecondary credential;

(ii) preparation for postsecondary educational and training opportunities;

(iii) strong linkages between academic instruction (based on challenging State academic standards established under section 6311(b)(1) of title 20 2

2 So in original. Probably should be followed by a closing parenthesis.

and occupational education that lead to the attainment of recognized postsecondary credentials;

(iv) preparation for unsubsidized employment opportunities, in appropriate cases; and

(v) effective connections to employers, including small employers, in in-demand industry sectors and occupations of the local and regional labor markets; and

(D) at the discretion of the local board, implement a pay-for-performance contract strategy for elements described in paragraph (2), for which the local board may reserve and use not more than 10 percent of the total funds allocated to the local area under section 3163(b) of this title.

(2) Program elementsIn order to support the attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, entry into postsecondary education, and career readiness for participants, the programs described in paragraph (1) shall provide elements consisting of—

(A) tutoring, study skills training, instruction, and evidence-based dropout prevention and recovery strategies that lead to completion of the requirements for a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (including a recognized certificate of attendance or similar document for individuals with disabilities) or for a recognized postsecondary credential;

(B) alternative secondary school services, or dropout recovery services, as appropriate;

(i) summer employment opportunities and other employment opportunities available throughout the school year;

(ii) pre-apprenticeship programs;

(iii) internships and job shadowing; and

(iv) on-the-job training opportunities;

(D) occupational skill training, which shall include priority consideration for training programs that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials that are aligned with in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the local area involved, if the local board determines that the programs meet the quality criteria described in section 3153 of this title;

(E) education offered concurrently with and in the same context as workforce preparation activities and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster;

(F) leadership development opportunities, which may include community service and peer-centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive social and civic behaviors, as appropriate;

(G) supportive services;

(H) adult mentoring for the period of participation and a subsequent period, for a total of not less than 12 months;

(I) followup services for not less than 12 months after the completion of participation, as appropriate;

(J) comprehensive guidance and counseling, which may include drug and alcohol abuse counseling and referral, as appropriate;

(K) financial literacy education;

(L) entrepreneurial skills training;

(M) services that provide labor market and employment information about in-demand industry sectors or occupations available in the local area, such as career awareness, career counseling, and career exploration services; and

(N) activities that help youth prepare for and transition to postsecondary education and training.

(3) Additional requirements

(A) Information and referralsEach local board shall ensure that each participant shall be provided—

(i) information on the full array of applicable or appropriate services that are available through the local board or other eligible providers or one-stop partners, including those providers or partners receiving funds under this part; and

(ii) referral to appropriate training and educational programs that have the capacity to serve the participant either on a sequential or concurrent basis.

(B) Applicants not meeting enrollment requirements

(4) Priority

(5) Rule of construction

(6) Prohibitions

(A) Prohibition against Federal control of education

(B) Noninterference and nonreplacement of regular academic requirements

(7) Linkages

(8) Volunteers

(Pub. L. 113–128, title I, § 129, July 22, 2014, 128 Stat. 1504; Pub. L. 114–18, § 2(e)(2), May 22, 2015, 129 Stat. 213; Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(yyy)(3), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2192.)