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Common Measures/Program Reporting and Performance Management Waiver Request
The District of Columbia Department of Employment Services is providing the public with an opportunity to comment and provide input on the new Common Measures Waiver Request which will be submitted to the US Department of Labor for approval. The waiver request will be posted for 14 days on the department’s website. All comments should be forwarded to does@dc.gov
 
The statutory or regulatory requirements that are requested to be waived
The District of Columbia is seeking a waiver of Section 136(b) which defines the current WIA Title I performance measures. We are requesting that the District be allowed to replace the 17 measures (15 core and 2 customer satisfaction) with the Common Measures delineated in TEGL 17-05. Starting July 1, 2006, the District would be operating under nine (9) measures: Adult Entered Employment, Adult Retention, Adult Earning Change, Dislocated Worker Entered Employment, Dislocated Worker Retention, Dislocated Worker Earnings Change, Youth Placement in Employment or Education, Youth Attainment of a Degree or Certificate, and Youth Literacy and Numeracy Gains.
Actions that the state or local areas, as appropriate, have undertaken to remove state or local statutory or regulatory barriers
While the District has no local statutory or regulatory barriers inhibiting service integration, we have taken considerable strides to remove procedural barriers and streamline services to enhance operational collaboration of our workforce investment activities. Actions include:
- Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs)-The District has signed MOUs with required and optional non-profit, faith-based, public and private sector partners including the WashingtonPost.com, CVS Pharmacy, and Manpower, who have positively affected our service delivery;
Co-locating Public and Private Sector Partners- In addition to MOUs, the District has provided one stop center access to numerous on-site partners including the District’s Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, the D.C. Office of Apprenticeship, Senior Community Service Program, CVS Pharmacy and Manpower, and the University of the District of Columbia. This offers customers a true one-stop experience with integrated and intensive service delivery; and,
Service integration- The District has pioneered an advanced web-based workforce development application to better serve its citizens and employers. The DCNetWorks system provides access to a comprehensive array of services for job seekers, employers, training providers, benefit applicants, youth and other one stop customers. DCNetWorks allows citizens to file for unemployment benefits, assess their skills, prepare resumes, research and compare training opportunities, explore the regional labor market, and search and apply for jobs. Employers can use DCNetWorks to place job orders and search for applicants by skill-set or position. The system also accommodates the employer looking for specific industrial and economic data and has a series of Internet links providing an immediate connection to a variety of issues and topics of interest to employers. Local training providers to have the ability to add or update information on current training courses and their performance. DCNetWorks offers a feature to research and compare approved training programs. These and other services are also offered at our One-Stop Career Centers, and are offered on a smaller scale throughout the six satellite centers, one mobile van, and one affiliate center in the Veteran’s Administration.
While these actions have momentous benefits, we believe that the waiver will allow us to continue to accelerate the benefits to our customers.
Description of the goals of the waiver and the expected programmatic outcomes if the request is granted
There are numerous benefits to granting the waiver request:
- Provides for a simplified and streamlined performance measurement system.
- Facilitates integrated, system-wide performance accountability to ensure successful integration of our workforce development programs as we move toward common goals and provides a mechanism to begin the process of using the common performance measures across programs.
- Provides cohesion across workforce development programs.
- Reduces paperwork and labor cost associated with data collection and analysis.
- Consistent with demand-driven performance outcomes.
- Provides clear and understandable information to Congressional and legislative leaders and the general public concerning the use of public funds and the return on the investment.
- Provides a more useful program management tool.
- Provides an opportunity for the District to better implement the Department of Labor’s Youth Vision, which includes increased accountability for employment and/or increased secondary and post-secondary education outcomes.
Approval of this waiver will positively impact all customers of the workforce investment system by providing accountability while improving program management and performance. This waiver will fully integrate and expand our initiatives in existing programs that will continue to streamline, strengthen and improve services to employers and residents of the District of Columbia.
Describe the process used to monitor the progress in implementing such a waiver, and the process by which notice and an opportunity to comment on such request has been provided to the local board:
The District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES) is the state administrative entity for all federally funded programs including the Workforce Investment Act. The waiver enables the District the flexibility to implement a seamless delivery of services and to customize the planning and service delivery for applicable programs. The DOES will monitor the implementation and impact of the waiver, through a combination of performance reporting, evaluations, and discussions with stakeholders regarding our progress toward expected outcomes.
The District will oversee and evaluate effective approaches to identify and address any obstacles, if any, and review applicable policies and procedures and modify them accordingly.
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