(b) (6) (A) Data Alignment and Integration

WDR 9 • Aviation and Aerospace • Construction

III. (b) (6) (A) Data Alignment and Integration

III. (B) (6) (A) Describe the plans of the the lead State agencies with responsibility for the administration of the core programs, along with the State Board, to align and integrate available workforce and education data systems for the core programs, unemployment insurance programs, and education through postsecondary education, and to the extent possible, the Combined State Plan partner programs included in this plan. The description of the State’s plan for integrating data systems should include the State’s goals for achieving integration and any progress to date.

Two of the core partners in Alabama have interoperable management information systems to exchange common data elements. The WIOA Title I entity (Alabama Department of Commerce) and the Wagner-Peyser entity (Alabama Department of Labor) run a nightly data extract that moves data from Alabama JobLink (AJL) to

AlaWorks for the WIOA adult, dislocated worker and youth reporting elements. Also, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) and the Alabama Department of Human Resources participate in a data warehouse provided by the Department of Commerce, known as the Interagency Electronic Linkage System (IELS). The IELS allows these agencies to extract data already collected by the Alabama Career Centers of clients served by these respective agencies.

The State plans to appoint a management information systems/data integration committee to develop a plan to ensure alignment of data for the core partners. The Alabama Legislature has recently introduced legislation to create the Alabama Longitudinal Data System to provide for the operation of a system to track performance and workforce data throughout Alabama’s education systems. The core program partners will continue, however, to work together over the coming months to implement the exchange of common data elements over all six core program activities. Alabama’s core partner program entities will continue to work throughout Program Year 2016 to fully streamline intake and service delivery to track participation across the core and optional programs. Management will require data collection and reporting staff to meet quarterly (at a minimum) to develop plans and recommendations to ensure this occurs. As mentioned previously Title I and Title II programs currently have common intake.

The Alabama Workforce Development Board will establish an ad hoc work committee to make recommendations regarding data alignment/integration. This committee will seek input from the Governor’s Office of Information Technology regarding the alignment or integration of current or future data system.

Alabama, through the partnership between the core partner agencies (Department of Commerce, Department of Labor, Alabama Community College System and Department of Rehabilitation Services), working with the

Governor’s Office of Information Technology, will be able to produce reports required by Section 116 of the WIOA. Continued assessment of current systems will provide a plan for data integration and sharing before the Program Year targeted for the WIOA performance reporting.

III. (B) (6) (A) (i) Describe the State’s plans to make the management information systems for the core programs interoperable to maximize the efficient exchange of common data elements to support assessment and evaluation.

the Alabama Longitudinal Data System to provide for the operation of a system to track performance and workforce data throughout Alabama’s education systems. The core program partners will continue, however, to work together over the coming months to implement the exchange of common data elements over all six core program activities. Alabama’s core partner program entities will continue to work throughout Program Year 2016 to fully streamline intake and service delivery to track participation across the core and optional programs. Management will require data collection and reporting staff to meet quarterly (at a minimum) to develop plans and recommendations to ensure this occurs. As mentioned previously Title I and Title II programs currently have common intake.

III. (B) (6) (A) (ii) Describe theState’s plans to integrate data systems to facilitate streamlined intake and service delivery to track participation across all programs included in this plan.

Legislation has been introduced and has the support of the Governor to create the Alabama Longitudinal Data System to be developed, operated, and maintained by the Alabama Office of Education and Workforce Statistics within the Department of Labor. This data system will match information about students from early learning through postsecondary education and into employment. The purpose of the system is to generate timely and accurate information about curriculum performance that can be used to improve the education system of the state and guide decision makers at all levels. The system will facilitate the enhancement of college and career ready students thought the collection and analysis of performance and workforce data.

An advisory board to the Office of Education and Workforce Statistics is created by the legislation. This board will oversee the development and operation of the system and will establish the research agenda of the office. All

student information collected from participating education and workforce authorities shall be protected, safeguarded, kept confidential, and used only by appropriate educational and workforce authorities in order to serve the best interests of students in accordance with state and federal law.

The advisory board consists of the following members: • The Commissioner of Labor

• The Secretary of Information Technology • The Governor’s Education Policy Advisor

• The Chair of the Senate Education Budget Committee • The Chair of the House Education Budget Committee • A representative of the State Board of Education

• The State Superintendent of Education or his/her designee

• A representative of the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees • The Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System

• The President of the Alabama Council of College and University Faculty Presidents or his/her designee • The President of the Alabama Association of Independent Colleges and Universities or his/her designee • The Chair of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education or his/her designee

• The Secretary of the Department of Early Childhood Education or his/her designee • The Secretary of Commerce or his/her designee

• The State Service Commissioner of the State Department of Veterans Affairs or his/her designee • The Executive Director of the Economic Development Association of Alabama or his/her designee • The Chair of the Alabama Workforce Council or his/her designee

• One information technology expert representing private industry with expertise in large data systems and data security

• One representative of the local school system superintendents • One representative of the public

III. (B) (6) (A) (iii) Explain how the State board will assist the governor in aligning technology and data systems across mandatory one-stop partner programs (including design and implementation of common intake, data collection, etc.) and how such alignment will improve service delivery to individuals, including unemployed individuals.

III. (B) (6) (A) (iv) Describe the State’s plans to develop and produce the reports required under section 116, performance accountability system. (WIOA section116(d)(2)).

III. (B) (6) (B) Assessment of Participants’ Post-Program Success. Describe how lead State agencies will use the workforce development system to assess the progress of participants who are exiting from core programs in entering, persisting in, and completing postsecondary education, or entering or remaining in employment. (States may choose to set additional indicators of performance.)

Alabama utilizes UI wage rewards to track participant success for WIOA Title I and Title III programs for entered employment, employment relation and median wage measures. Agreements for Title II, (Adult Education) and Title IV Vocational Rehabilitation participants tracking for these three measures will be effected in order to track

measureable employment and wage activity.

For the measures relating “Evidential Attainment”, “Measurable Skill Gains” and “Effectiveness in Serving Employers” the core partner agencies will utilize extensive call management through the Alabama Career Center System data on these measures.

The Alabama Longitudinal Data System (ALDS), once it becomes operable in 2017, should provide information on all students in post secondary education and below. The purpose of the ALDS includes the timely and accurate information about education performance that can be used to improve the education system of all education providers and guide decision makers at all levels, to facilitate the enhancement of the performance data and

workforce data. The ALDS will require the primary users of data on educational attainment, including the State and Local Workforce Development Boards to address deficiencies in the delivery of educational programs throughout the system.

III. (B) (6) (C) Use of Unemployment Insurance (UI) Wage Record Data. Explain how the State will meet the requirements to utilize quarterly UI wage records for performance accountability, evaluations, and as a source for workforce and labor market information, consistent with Federal and State law. (applies to core programs)

Alabama will continue to utilize quarterly State UI records wage data as well the Wage Record Interchange System (WRIS) which facilitates the exchange of wage data among participating States in order to measure progress and performance accountability for State and local area performance measures. This wage data also assists in evaluating and accessing workforce and local labor market information. Currently, the Alabama Workforce Development Division has a data sharing agreement with the Alabama Department of Labor (State UI records) and with WRIS. These data sharing agreements are modified as necessary to reflect changes in staff and/or federal or state law. Safeguards are in place to ensure wage data stored for reporting purposes is deleted after ETA reports have been generated.

III. (B) (6) (D) Privacy Safeguards. Describe the privacy safeguards incorporated in the State’s workforce development system, including safeguards required by section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g) and other applicable Federal laws.

Data collection and data analysis for decision-making and planning for Alabama’s workforce development and education programs shall conform to privacy safeguards established in state and federal law. The longitudinal data system described above in III. (B) (6) (A) (ii) will be operated and maintained by theOffice of Education and Workforce Statistics. This office is considered an authorized representative of the State Department of Education under applicable federal and state laws for purposes of accessing and compiling student record data for research purposes. The Office will develop deidentification standards and processes using modern statistical methods. The Office is responsible for the protection and the maintenance of confidentiality of collected student data, including compliance with the federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and all other relevant state and federal privacy laws, including rules and policies established by the advisory board that are not in conflict with existing state or federal laws or rules or regulations.

III. (B) (7) Priority of Service for Veterans

III. (B) (7) Describe how the State will implement and monitor the priority of service provisions for veterans in accordance with the requirements of the Jobs for Veterans Act, codified at section 4215 of 38 U.S.C., which applies to all employment and training programs funded in whole or in part by the Department of Labor. States should also describe the referral process for veterans determined to have a significant barrier to employment to receive services from the Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) program’s Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP)

specialist.

In affiliation with the American Job Center (AJC) network, the Alabama Veterans’ Services Program within the Alabama Career Center system shall offer comprehensive employment and career placement service to nearly 25,000 veterans a year through a combination of self- service Internet-based job services and direct assistance at AJCs throughout the state.

The Alabama Job Link (AJL) system, as a point of entry for self-service registration, provides a priority service notification to veterans and covered persons at https://joblink.alabama.gov/ada/mn_veterans_dsp.cfm

Veterans and persons entitled to priority services and training complete a universal application that includes features and questions designed to assist staff members in identifying them for priority services and training at the point of entry into the workforce development system.

Veterans who can use AJL competently are encouraged to self-register and make maximum use of the automated access to resources. As a core service, career center specialists review applications and resumes submitted by veterans and covered persons who register for employment using self-service, to ensure that veterans’ applications clearly state job objectives and show meaningful information with regards to work history, education and

training. Because veterans’ resumes are listed first in the search results and are annotated with an American flag, employers can quickly locate qualified veterans for job openings. To ensure that veterans’ receive priority in referral to job openings, the Alabama Job Link system provides 24- hour email alerts to veterans for any job listing that matches their resumes. The automated system to select qualified candidates for job openings is programmed to refer only qualified veterans in the first 24 hours of the listing, unless no qualified veterans are available.

Priority service is also provided when veterans, or others eligible for priority, are identified at intake when

registering for services at any AJC, or other service delivery points. Career center specialists will ensure that each veteran completing a full application will have properly recorded their skills, education, training, job or career interests, work experience, licenses or certifications, employment availability, contact information, and other vital information.

Additionally, AJCs will use signage, graphics, and displays to inform veterans and Covered Persons of priority service (as described under Title 38 U.S.C. Chapter 42 and 20 CFR Part 1010) and as applicable to all US DOL- funded employment services and training.

Moreover, local career center managers will develop outreach activities to locate Covered Persons under Veterans’ Priority. Managers or designated representatives will review special reports generated by AJL for the purpose of identifying veterans and Covered Persons who may be contacted and made aware of their priority in services and training. Career Center managers will develop local service strategies and training goals for veterans and Covered Persons entitled to Veterans’ Priority, in consultation with their partner agencies and training providers, to

encourage maximum utilization of services and training by veterans and Covered Persons.

All Alabama Workforce Development regions have implemented Veterans’ Priority in the State WIA and Wagner- Peyser Plan of Service. Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) representatives and Local Veterans

Employment Representatives (LVERs) shall complement Priority of Service provided by the AJC to veterans and Covered Persons, as mandated under Title 38 U.S.C., Chapter 41, and in accordance with the general and special provisions of the Jobs For Veterans State Grant (JVSG), and applicable regulations, policies, and directive guidance for JVSG from the Assistant Secretary, Veterans Employment and Training (ASVET), including Veterans Program Letters addressing DVOP-LVER Roles and Responsibilities.

The Alabama strategy leverages improvements in technology to enable career center specialists to locate and review the resumes of veterans using on-line self-services for the purpose of offering helpful advice or suggestions on presenting their skills and abilities to prospective employers, because the AJL data system is designed to support employers searching for key words, then automatically flags the resumes of veterans and Covered Persons who are identified as qualified candidates within the parameters entered by the employer. This advantage offers veterans and Covered Person a Priority in Service and enables an employer to contact them directly, with or without a referral through a posted job order.

Targeting Services to Veterans with Significant Barriers to Employment (SBE):

Alabama Career Centers in the statewide American Job center (AJC) network will provide comprehensive employment, training, and career placement services to nearly 25,000 veterans a year through a combination of Internet-based job services and personal assistance at Alabama Career Centers in the statewide AJC network. Alabama has more than 32,000 residents currently serving in the Armed Forces and of that nearly 13,000 in the National Guard and Reserve component. Alabama National Guard ranked fifth in numbers of troops deployed.

The Alabama Career Center system in the American Job Center network operates under the auspices of the Alabama Department of Labor, the state agency responsible for providing employment services and related services to

veterans, and is authorized by the Governor to make application for funds to carry out the Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) to carry out the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) and Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) program as mandated under Title 38 U.S.C. Chapter 41.

The Alabama Job Link (AJL) enables veterans to use self-services, including registration. This approach enables specialists in the DVOP to review the registrations and resumes submitted by veterans on-line and then contact veterans who appear to need further assistance. Alabama DVOP specialists prioritize their efforts with veterans who are facing significant barriers to employment (SBE) in securing employment, including veterans who appear to be having difficulty in using the Alabama Job Link (AJL) automated system. The assignment of DVOP specialists at specific Alabama Career Centers in the statewide American Job Center (AJC) network is based on a strategy to ensure veterans with SBEs are priority customers in the Alabama Workforce Development system. Although many

In document Table of Contents Page. I. WIOA State Plan Type. II. Strategic Elements. III. Operational Elements. Individual Core and Partner Program Plans (Page 63-70)