Federal Law & Guidance
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is the federal law that applies to adult education programs across the country. Adult Education is defined in Title II of WIOA – the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA).
It’s important to note some key elements of WIOA that affect our Adult Education system here in Minnesota:
- WIOA requires federal Adult Education funds to be competed. More information about the competitive process in Minnesota and the resulting grantees is available in the Adult Education Consortium Grants section of this website.
- One key principle of WIOA is the alignment of services across titles. This places an emphasis on partnership between Title II (Adult Education) and Title I (Workforce Development), Title III (Wagner-Peyser), and Title IV (Vocational Rehabilitation).
WIOA state, regional and local plans
WIOA requires states to create plans at the state, regional, and local levels for collaboration between programs in all titles. Minnesota’s statewide WIOA plan, as well as regional and local plans, are available on the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) website.
OCTAE Memos
The Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) is the office at the Federal Department of Education that oversees Adult Education and the implementation of AEFLA nationwide. OCTAE publishes program memos and other communication that offer guidance, clarification, and explanation around requirements of AEFLA.
NRS
The National Reporting System for Adult Education (NRS) is an outcome-based reporting system for state-administered, federally funded Adult Education programs. The NRS comprises a set of data specifications, data collection methodologies, and reporting requirements established by OCTAE in order to comply with requirements under WIOA.
Additional Resources
WIOA Regulations and Definitions
- Format: