WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT

PERFORMANCE NEGOTIATION AND GOAL SETTING





This document reflects the Department of Labor's current thinking in relation to key policy issues that have been identified in the development of the Workforce Investment Act Performance Accountability system. It is a work in progress and does not reflect Administration policy or the concurrence of Federal partners. It is intended solely as policy guidance to inform our partners and stakeholders about policy issues that have been identified. Not all issues have been fully resolved, some issues have not been addressed, and the policy positions set forth in this document are subject to revision.


December 6, 1999
 
 

WIA Performance Negotiation and Goal Setting

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) calls for DOL to negotiate with States to establish performance goals in 17 key areas specified by Law. The levels of performance must be "expressed in an objective, measurable form; and show the progress of the State toward continuously improving in performance". Actual performance will then be compared to these negotiated performance goals to determine whether States are eligible for incentives or subject to sanctions.

States are to negotiate the performance levels that cover all 17 core measures for the first three years of their WIA program. Prior to the fourth program year, States are to negotiate the performance levels for the fourth and fifth years of their program.

Negotiation Methodology

DOL will provide guidance to States on how to develop baseline data and will identify target levels of performance for core measures that do not have baselines. In the new WIA system, it is anticipated that States will strive to achieve continuous improvement in their workforce investment activities and will have performance that demonstrates an increase from performance of prior programs.

The DOL process for negotiating performance levels will request States to:

  1. Submit baseline performance (as described in DOL guidance) for each of the 17 core measures.
  2. Identify a proposed performance level for each of the 17 core measures.
  3. Describe how factors such as economic conditions, the characteristics of participants when the participants entered the program and the services to be provided contributed to the development of the proposed performance levels.
  4. Describe "the extent to which the levels involved will assist the State in attaining a high level of customer satisfaction"
  5. Describe "the extent to which such levels involved promote continuous improvement in performance on the performance measures. . ."

DOL will review this information and will compare the proposed levels with the baseline information from other States and the negotiated levels of performance established for other States taking into account factors including differences in economic conditions, the characteristics of participants when the participants entered the program, and the services to be provided

DOL will provide negotiation guidelines to Regional Offices to ensure consistency in the negotiation process nationwide. These guidelines should also provide flexibility so that negotiated levels can be developed for each State based on their individual circumstances. Although the process will provide for National review, it is anticipated that performance levels negotiated by Regions within the guidelines will be generally be accepted.

Revisions

The WIA statute allows for the renegotiation of performance levels if circumstances arise that result in a significant change in the factors used to develop the original performance levels. Since States have limited baseline data to project performance levels for PY 2000, 2001 and 2002, it is anticipated that States may want to renegotiate performance for PY 2001 and 2002 as more baseline data becomes available. DOL will collaborate with the system to develop objective criteria and methods for making such revisions.