The U.S. Departments of Labor and Education have reported progress in their joint efforts to streamline federal workforce development programs. This initiative, part of the Trump Administration's actions, involves transferring the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) state plan portal to the Department of Labor. The aim is to simplify the administration of core WIOA programs, including adult education and family literacy.
Efforts are underway to integrate the Perkins state plan portal into the WIOA portal, enabling states with combined plans to submit information through a single system. Since October 1, nearly 800 payment requests from 43 states and territories have been processed successfully. All grantees have been onboarded to GrantSolutions and Payment Management Systems, which are widely used by federal agencies.
The departments are also aligning timelines for submitting modifications to the 2026 WIOA State Plan and will provide joint feedback on these submissions. Guidance has been issued regarding available WIOA waiver options and recommendations for integrating Perkins' career and technical education programs into the public workforce system.
Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Lori Frazier Bearden said, "The Department of Labor is committed to working closely with the Department of Education to reduce federal bureaucracy." Acting Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education Nick Moore added that this partnership demonstrates effective co-administration of CTE and adult education programs.
Several states have already benefited from this collaboration. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey praised the coordination efforts that align education with industry demands. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp highlighted reforms connecting K-12 education with workforce programs as essential for meeting employer needs.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves noted his state's proactive approach in training for future jobs through legislative changes that align with private sector needs. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen expressed gratitude for federal support in streamlining government processes.
Alabama Community College System Chancellor Jimmy Baker emphasized their role in providing education and workforce training aligned with federal efforts. Dr. Eric Mackey, Alabama State Superintendent of Education, acknowledged progress made since combining Perkins and WIOA plans in 2020.
Courtney Taylor from Accelerate Mississippi welcomed efforts to merge Perkins with workforce systems, emphasizing state-level decision-making's importance in delivering results.
On May 21, an Economy Act Interagency Agreement was signed between the departments allowing procurement of services between agencies. The Labor Department will handle administrative services for certain Education Department programs while maintaining statutory responsibilities.
This partnership aims to better integrate federal education and workforce systems by launching an integrated WIOA state plan portal at the Labor Department on September 8. This allows easier coordination between departments on core WIOA programs like adult education.
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