The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which revises and reauthorizes the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA). The law supports innovative strategies to keep pace with changing economic conditions and seeks to improve coordination between four core federal programs that support employment services, workforce development, adult education, and vocational rehabilitation activities. The Final Rules for AEFLA Programs and Activities (Title II) and the Joint Rule for Unified and Combined State Plans, Performance Accountability, and the One-Stop System Joint Provisions in implementing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) are published in the Federal Register. Links to additional final rules for core partners can be found below under Important WIOA Information and Resources.

The core programs consist of:

• Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth
  administered by the Department of Labor (DOL) under Title I;
• Adult Education and Literacy
  administered by the Department of Education (ED) under Title II;
• Wagner-Peyser Act employment services
  administered by DOL under Title III; and
• Vocational Rehabilitation Act
  administered by ED under Title IV.

The law includes eight components related to the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) of Title II, which provides foundation skills and English literacy instruction to nearly 1.8 million individuals each year. The eight components are:

1. A Unified State Plan
2. Common Performance Measures across Core Programs
3. Alignment between Adult Education, Postsecondary Education, and Employers
4. Educational and Career Advancement for Incarcerated Individuals
5. High-quality Adult Education Delivery System
6. Professional Development Opportunities and Innovative Models
7. Quality Improvement of Adult Education Programs
8. Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IEL/CE)

Important ACLS Update

• WIOA Joint Partner Communication #04-2019 New MDCS and DTA WPP Reports for Managing Data

• WIOA Joint Partner Policy #04-2019 (Federal Poverty Guidelines for Senior Community Service Employment-2019)

• WIOA Joint Partner Communication #03-2019 FY2019 Adult and Community Learning Services Adult Career Pathway Funds

• WIOA Joint Partner Policy #02-2019 (FY19 WIOA State Partner Infrastructure Contributions)

• WIOA Joint Partner Communication #04-2018 (WIOA State Partner Infrastructure Contributions)

Important WIOA Information and Resources

• Guidance for Adult Basic Education — Memorandum of Understanding

• Guidance for Adult Education — Shared Customers — 7/1/2022

• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Massachusetts State Combined Plan (July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2024)

• Vision for Adult Education and Family Act under WIOA — 8/18/2015

• Massachusetts Joint Policies

• State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program; State Supported Employment Services Program; Limitations on Use of Subminimum Wage — Final Rule

• WIOA: Miscellaneous Program Changes — Final Rule

• WIOA: Department of Labor-Only — Final Rule

• WIOA Partners' Survey on Technical Assistance Needs — Communication #01-2016 — 8/15/2016

• Local Interim Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) — 6/13/2016

• WIOA Readiness Tool

• National Reporting System (NRS)

• Information on State Performance Reporting

WIOA Topical Fact Sheets

The Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) at the US Department of Education has posted information on their webpage pertaining to specific areas of the WIOA legislation. The links below provide guidance on how OCTAE has interpreted these areas of the legislation. The WIOA legislation went into effect in July 2016.

• WIOA Provides Opportunity for Partnership to Serve Out of School Youth

• Corrections Education [PDF 307KB]

• English Language Acquisition [PDF 274KB]

• Essential Components of Reading [PDF 279KB]

• Integrating Technology [PDF 315KB]

For more information regarding WIOA please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website.

Last Updated: July 1, 2022